>From:    Eden Rain <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: winterizing the woozles
>Bill & I are both happy to keeep the temperature in our house down around
>60 to 65 farenheit during the fall & winter, but I worry about the woozle
 
We honestly believe the lower temperatures are healthier for the ferrets.
People and ferrets have different requirements.  Just as a Polar bear would
overheat in the Great Smokeys and a North Carolina black bear would freeze
in Alaska, ferrets and people have different comfort levels.  We think our
ferrets are healthier BECAUSE we keep the temperatures even lower for the
ferrets than you mention.  Give them plenty of blankets to nestle in and
they'll be fine.
 
>From:    "COURTNEY J. SCHOLL" <[log in to unmask]>
>What's a marten?
 
Only marten I've seen in the wild was a Pine Marten hangin out in a tree
while I canoed along a wilderness river in La Verendrie Park in Quebec
Canada.  A marten is a larger relative of the weasel, ferret and polecats.
They are mustelids but not as closely related to the ferret as the smaller
polecats.
 
>From:    "March, Jim" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: BFF/Fuzzbutt crossbreeding
 
If I remember Mo Bob's earlier posting correctly, the Ferret can cross with
the European polecat.  The European polecat can cross with the steppe (or
Siberian or chinese) polecat even though there is a chromosone count problem-
but I'm not sure on this one.  The Steppe poley can cross with the BFF.  But
the BFF can not bross with the European poley or the domestic ferret.  As I
understand it no BFF jills are crossed with poleys but BFF hobs are bred to
poley jills.  It would be highly unlikely that any crosses would be released
to the wild.
 
There is a lot of controversy about the BFF release program.  Some folks
feel no older BFFs should be released.  Some folks along with the scientists
believe releasing the older no longer breedable BFFs will provide
information about dangers to the younger BFFs.  Unfortunately science often
progresses through death.  Just as animals must die to test vaccines som
many more might live, so do the specialists seem to believe that the release
of older BFFs even if the die will provide information that will help the
later younger BFFs survive their releases.  I tend to think scientists with
years of education and training know more about science than those of us
without the same training and education.  Just as I tend to trust doctors
and vets with years of education to know more about medicine than the
average layperson.
 
>From:    Pam Grant and STAR* Ferrets <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: adoption, homing & scenting, 3rd pop pet
>_Mustela furo_ is the third most popular domesticated companion housepet,
>following the dog and the cat.
 
Not disagreeing, but I had also heard it stated as third most popular
domestic carnivore.  This seems the most likely to me.  Quite a few bunny
rabbits which are domesticated out there.  What is the original source and
their quotation?  I honestly don't know, PIJAC maybe?
 
>Subject: Alex. Rescues, Fish & Corn, MF, well wishes
>I am ALWAYS telling people NOT to "rescue" ferrets from pet shop situations
 
Good post.  We especially agree with this point.
 
>From:    "JEFF JOHNSTON, EPIDEMIOLOGY" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Is Lymphoma Caused by a Virus?
 
Interesting concept.  Especially now that ulcers that used to be seen as
stress induced can be bacterial instead and is treated with anti-biotics.
 
>I wonder if I've opened up a whole new can of worms?
 
Oh yeah I'd say so.  But it might explain the US vs. European discrepancies
far more plausibly than "bad" genetics.  Please keep us informed of what you
learn.  We promise not to go off half cocked before all the information is
in.
 
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets
http:\\www.zenferret.com\
mailto: [log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 1706]