Katie, no, I didn't get much shut-eye, but I remembered your voice in the
back of my head and did take some time off from their needs to catch a meal.
 
Someone was trying to LITTER TRAIN with punishment.  Don't do that.  Ferrets
train best without punishment which can just make them stubborn or frighten
them.  Use a cage to accustom the ferret to the pot.  Let it out only after
it has gone.  Put it back if the base of the tail begins to thump or get a
bit stiff.  Run it back if it has started backing into a corner, or lifting
tail, or squating.  Praise it to the skies whenever it goes in the pot.
Also use the cage(s) for safety reasons, health related isolations, time out
when it nips, etc.  Be consistent and loving.  If they could they'd fly if
they thought that might please a loving and supportive human; they will do
just about anything for one they love.
 
GENETICS reply: Okay, Mountain Gorillas probably are not a good example, not
only because of their rapid human caused declines but because they are a
recent crash, lacking enough genetic documentation even to the point of not
even knowing if some populations may be subspecies.  What they are an ideal
example of is what happens to species which are in locations with human
population booms and war ravages.  You will instead want to read up on
cheetahs (I am sure Bob could suggest other species which meet your
parameters.) to get an hold on what can be good or bad about narrowing the
genetic variability in a species.  (This IS ferret related; the individual
wants to understand aspects of limiting variability more to better make
breeding decisions.) (Did not work w them; only knew D.F.  as a
barely-acquaintence.)
 
                        Sleep, that oft forgotten dream,
 
Sukie, Steve, Meltdown (who is doing WONDERFULLY and acts like a jaunty 5
year old instead of a seven and a half year old with cardiomyopathy and
ventricular pacemaker problems on her Enacard and Dig.), Ruffle, 'Chopper
the organic helicopter, Spot, Meeteetse (who fortunately had a nasty week
long virus instead of lymphoma and yesterday got to crush all Daddy's tomato
seedlings -- luckily not by mouth since it is a solanaius), and Warp
 
Gads, I want to sleep.  I am a professional; do not try me at home.
(Forgive, pls., just like the line and I need a bit of a laugh right now.)
[Posted in FML issue 1557]