I and someone mention finances to me privately and ask about insurance
for ferrets.  We don't personally insure our's (instead we carefully save
beforehand), but on my site http://geocities.com/sukieslist I list the
only one that I have heard of which insures ferrets; so far I have heard
anyone post a bad experience with the place and have read of good
experiences.
 
Pet: I don't mind the term; grew up with people who also used it for
cherished humans.  It just means someone you adore enough to cuddle.
Have dealt with enough legislation and health issues to cope okay with
"owner", too, though "possession: bugs me.  Usually, I use companion,
and say "ferrets in the family".
 
Have already had a number of folks ask.  Yes, I am one of the two people
in the ferret article in Reader's Digest, but used a pseudonym due to
someone around here who loves to cause trouble and absolutely hates
animals -- laughs when wounded deer are seen.  The article was written
late last year or early this one (Can't recall which.) when we still had
7, and Linda Spears, the author, is a person who loves animals and works
with a snuggly dog breed that is often misunderstood due to appearances.
Steve and I are looking forward to seeing what the final version of the
article is like since we saw only the first draft which would have used
about a half page.  I was fortunate to be able to provide resources
beforehand so Linda has a firm foundation, and also provided her with a
number of contacts so that if the magazine decides to do a later piece
within a reasonable time-frame she has everything in place.  Bruce
Williams had sent Linda to me.
 
>In the article it says 1-4 million ferrets...wow!  No wonder we have so
>many rescues...
 
There actually may be more.  4 to 5 million is a middling estimate, but
the choice was made to stay conservative because even the low numbers get
across prevalence and safety of ferrets and the low numbers can't be
argued against by ferret foes.  They can't come out and say, "Well, some
people think the numbers are lower..." when you've gone and used the
lowest population ones available and even those numbers illustrate great
safety.
 
Severe deaf biters: it can really help to avoid startling them.  Never
just scoop them up -- let them see you, floor-thump so they know you are
there, put a scent on your hands that does not worsen biting (Some scents
have that effect.).  Like Rebecca said, what you need to do is to build
their trust, and that takes time and patience.  It's like dealing with
any animal short one sense; some of the training and alert signals just
aren't there so others have to be used.
 
>I wanted to also ask, what are the reasons for biting, and ..  does this
>affect how a ferret is trained?  For example, a ferret that bites from
>traditional fear (fear biter), is that different than a ferret that bites
>out of aggression and lack of social skills.  Is that further different
>than a ferret that bites out of surprise fear (such as a deaf ferret being
>snuck up on)?
 
Yes, or there can even be a combo.  Ferret personalities range widely,
just like human's do.  We all know a few people who are jumpy and rapidly
are frightened or take offence easily (or even take offence because they
are frightened), while others have most things just roll off their backs,
and most fall somewhere in the middle.  Well, ferrets are like that, too.
[Posted in FML issue 3765]