One of the two largest arguments the NZ gov't has against pet ferrets is that they can be reservoirs for mycobacteria, although some possums are the larger risk on that score. A vaccine is being tried in the U.K. on badgers to reduce their chances of being mycobacteria reservoir animals: <http://www.animalpharmnews.com/foodproducinganimals/bovine/Badger-BCG-vaccine-authorized-for-UK-use-227576> [Subscription required to view entire article. BIG] Sukie (not a vet) Recommended ferret health links: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/ http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html http://www.miamiferret.org/ http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/ http://www.ferretcongress.org/ http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html all ferret topics: http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html "All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow." (2010, Steve Crandall) [Posted in FML 6666]