Jean:
We have four ferrets, ages 3 years to eight months:  Three of them are rescues
and all three were labelled biters.  One, Lucretia (Luci for short), at six
months of age was actually so terrified and insecure when we got her from a pet
store that she could be described only as vicious.  When I first met her, she
fastened herself first to my hand (lots of blood) and then to my calf (more
blood).  It took me two months and a lot of love and bloodshed to get her not
to bite without provocation.  Now, six months later, she is a happy, loving
ferret.
 
My observations on your daughter's situation are:
    1)  at 6 1/2 weeks, Cashew was probably separated from her siblings too
early to sociallise properly;
    2)  she hasn't had enough time to adjust to the safety of her new nest or
learned how affection is expressed;
    3)  the ferret is a baby and she is still learning how to interact.
 
The seeming vengefulness and the tantrums are the manifestation of her fear.
She needs three things:
    - more gentle handling to build trust.  This is best done just as she
rouses herself from sleep.  As she opens her eyes, she will find herself in
your arms and the first few times she should bolt.  Slowly, as you continue to
pick her up while she is asleep, she will feel safer and relax in your arms as
she awakens.  Let her leave when she wants:  DON'T prevent her from scampering
off.  Talk to Cashew whenever you see her and feed her treats from your hand so
that she associate you with safety and pleasantness.
    - more time.  Luci was rudely called "Psycho-ferret" behind our backs
(actually, to our faces, too!), but with us she is just a little love.  We
didn't give up, even as the months passed.  I just invested in a few boxes of
bandages.  It takes us time to accustom ourselves to a new environment.
Imagine what it is like for a small animal that has NO control at all over what
happens to it.
    - a companion.  Though this is obviously out of the question, remember that
ferrets like company.  The best way to do this if we are out a lot during the
day, is to provide a sister or brother.  I don't find that four ferrets are any
more work than one, though I do get four times the crap and four times the
guilt laid on me.  Re-evaluate the situation and see if a second ferret really
is not possible.
 
Stick with it:  Once she settles down, Cashew will provide you with so much
love and loyalty that any effort on your part will have been worthwhile.
 
Good luck!
 
Karl and Tamarah and the Gang of Four:  Jennifer, Lucretia, Minerva, and
Rasputin
[Posted in FML issue 1163]