The internet address posted for the black-footed ferret recent history was
incorrect.  A correction was sent but may have gotten lost in cyberspace.
We hope you will all access this startling and sad article, The Black-footed
Ferret; A Natural and Unnatural History, for a balanced view of the Federal
recovery effort.  It is found at:
http://members.gnn.com/AcmeFerret/BFFpage/BFFhist.htm
 
And just a couple notes; no, BFFs and polecats do not hybernate per se, but
are often less active in the winter and can slow metabolism to reduce
survival needs.
 
And, yes, your ferret is quite capable of killing your guinea pig and may do
so with alarming acuity.  Same goes for rats, birds, hamsters and rodents of
all types.  Domestic ferrets, as sweet as they seem, retain a lot of those
old huntin' genes from their wild cousins, although they rarely eat their
prey since hunger is not a factor.
 
      Cordially,
           Carolyn Kinsey
[Posted in FML issue 1703]