Just a few miscellaneous comments:
1. Mice: [here's my opinion and your welcome to it ;)] I strongly suggest
anyone with a mouse problem *NOT* let their ferrets (or their cats, for
that matter) play with, kill, or eat them as the mice may carry diseases
and/or parasites you don't want your pets exposed to, and the mice could
injure your ferrets (they do have sharp little teeth and claws and aren't
afraid to use them).  I realize you may not know your ferret (or cat) has
interacted with a mouse until you find the little rodent carcass, but if
you see it happening, stopping it would be a good idea.  As for getting rid
of the mice, poison is a tricky solution in case your carpet sharks do find
the rodents (or the poison) before you.  Having (thankfully) never had a
rodent problem, I don't know how well "humane" traps work, but I think that
would be my first step - no risk of poisoning a ferret and it gets the
rodent out of reach of your ferret.
 
2. Ferretone stains on your favorite shirt?  You might try Nature's
Miracle - the label indicates it removes oil stains.  There's also a
product - whose name escapes me - that my mom used to get engine grime off
my dad's clothes (he's a mechanic so frequently gets oil, grease, etc on
his clothes).  I bet a local garage or auto parts store would know and it
might work on Ferretone as well as 10W30.
 
3. The length of front nails vs.  back nails: I don't know if this is the
"technical" answer sought, but, as we all know, ferrets like to dig.  In
fact, their fellow Mustelids, black-footed ferrets, weasels, skunks, minks,
etc., all dig in the wild for various reasons including making dens and
finding food.  They do this digging with their front feet, hence the
longer, thicker, stronger, faster growing front claws.
 
And last, but certainly not least, thanks to all who have sent their
get-well wishes to Selena and are keeping her in their thoughts.  She
seems to get a little better every day.
 
Tammy
Selena - "Stop checking on me!  I'm *just* sleeping!!"
Holly - "I fail to see why that glorified cat-toy is getting so much
         attention."
Shadow - "Did somebody say cat-treats?"
Myst - "Come rub my tummy so I can scratch you."
[Posted in FML issue 3035]