Pandas start out as pandas.  Other ferrets may try to mimic them in the
winter, but the sham will collapse next spring.  The winter coat involves
growing a lot more underfur, which is usually white or very light.  The
overfur fluffs out and the denser underfur shows more.  The head has less
long guard hair than the body and is more affected.  The effect is to
lighten the look to a more whitish cast and the mask might decrease in
size.  Come the spring, the true colors will return.  We've got photos of
our ferrets in their various fur phases and the changes over the years are
surprising.
 
   ( )--(a)
   (@=@=) \     Till next time.......Rudy the ferlosopher
   O__)  \ \___
      \   \
      /\ * )  \
[Posted in FML issue 1387]