Hi!
I've been receiving Ferret Digest for about two months, and I got very
worried for poor Buzz, in the Denver Childrens Museum.  I e-mailed a friend
in Colorado, asking that if he visited the museum anytime soon, he might
complain about these poor living conditions.  He did more than I had
expected & wrote to Sonia Peterson.  Here's a copy of the letter, for anyone
interested-
 
Dear Randy,
 
My name is Sonia Peterson and I am the ScienceLAB Coordinator at The
Children's Museum of Denver.  I am writing to tell you what is happening
with our ferrt "Buzz."
 
Buzz is 1 1/2 years old and has lived in the museum for the majority of her
life.  She lives in the biocube area of our ScienceLAB along with several
other types of animals (including turtles, chameleons, frogs, fish, snails,
and crabs).  Our main purpose for having a ferret is to help demonstrate the
differences between mammals, reptiles, amphibians, gastropods, and
crustaceans.  She is a unique mammal to most people.  We love having the
ferret as part of our museum.
 
Buzz lived in a 18" x 39 1/2" x 23" cage with a wooden top and bottom.  The
walls and sliding door were made of glass.  Her cage was kept in the same
area as the plants in the biocube.  In the last two weeks we received our
first complaints about Buzz's cage.  We contacted an organization called
Ferrets, Etc.  and asked for some advice.  They suggested that we change the
cage to allow for greater air ventilation (instead of glass, use wire mesh).
They also suggested that the cage should not be near the bright lamps used
to keep the plants alive.  Ferrets are especially vulnerable to heatstroke.
 
We have removed Buzz from her former cage and we are currently looking for a
new 1/4" square wire mesh cage.  Until then, she and I are sharing an
office.  We will also place her in a different part of the museum in an area
that has less light and heat.  Since she gets lots of playtime with staff
members, we have been advised that it is not necessary to find her another
companion.
 
I hope this addresses your concern about her living conditions.  We
appreciate your concern and taking the time to notify us!  We enjoy Buzz
very much and we do not wish her any harm.
 
                 Sonia Peterson
 
 
I hope this helps anyone who was concerned for Buzz.
 
I've really enjoyed receiving Ferret Digest, but I (unfortunatly) don't have
a ferret yet. I'll be getting one soon, if I can convince my parents. :)
 
    Rachael
[Posted in FML issue 1468]