Blizzard or no blizzard, while reviewing the FML, the posting from SJCRS on
"Ferret Heating Pads" brought to mind the issue of "Ferret Air Conditioning".
Granted, it's cold outside (what I gift I have for understatement!), but we
can never start thinking too soon about the welfare of our charges.
 
My SO goes through bottled water at work like a hot knife through butter. We
have learned to save them (as long at they have screw-on caps) and recycle
them our own way.
 
Take an empty water bottle (Evian, Naya, Poland Spring, etc.) that has a
*screw-on* cap. The size of the bottle should be based on the amount of time
you will be out, the temperature, and the number of fuzzies you have in the
carrier. Fill it about 3/4 full. Place the *open* bottle in the freezer  --
remember, don't keep the cap on it! -- and allow the water to freeze
completely. When the water is frozen, you can store the bottles on their
sides and allow for more storage room in the freezer.
 
When you need to use it, take it out, cap it *tightly* and wrap it in a
small towel (hand or dish towels are about the right size for under 20 oz.
and smaller bottles.  Put it in the carrier, and you've got fuzzy
"air-conditioning."
 
This past summer we used 1 liter bottles, one per cage, and changed them as
needed.
 
You "know" your ferrets are spoiled when half your freezer hold "ferret air
conditioning units."
[Posted in FML issue 1438]