Wood shavings are often used as bedding, not just litter.  Unlike with
pellets, shavings get tracked around, are drying to the coat, get into the
water and food dishes, and food that falls out of the bowl disappears under
the shavings.
 
Also, even pine pellets generally aren't a problem, since they are made
from compressed saw dust.  The volatile oils are pretty much gone by the
time the pellets are made.
 
Linda Iroff
Raisin Retreat Ferret Shelter
Oberlin, OH
http://www.oberlin.edu/~liroff/ncfs.html
[Posted in FML issue 2529]