One thing we found that seems to help our ferret's skin after a bout of
bathing is a few drops of Avon Skin So Soft in the final rinse water.
After adding the SSS, we dunk the ferret and swish it around; then dry.
It gives them a fresh smell and seems to keep their skin and coat moist
and shiny.  That may help if you HAVE TO bathe them often.  (We usually
bathe ours only a couple of times a year unless they get into something
that requires a bath to get it off.)
 
Collars: We tried the name tags and collars.  Spent quite a bit of money in
the process.  We finally gave up after watching one ferret who couldn't get
her collar off literally go up and "ask" another ferret to help.  That one
grabbed the collar and pulled, while the wearer pulled the other direction.
After it was off the former wearer grabbed the collar and took off with it.
Somewhere in our house are 12 collars, complete with bells and name tags.
We gave up.  Harnesses may work better - perhaps a slightly less chance of
them getting it off or strangling themselves, but still a chance of them
getting hung up on something and getting hurt or worse (underneath a
baseboard radiator for example.)
 
Blind Ferrets: Unlike most humans, ferrets do not rely a great deal on
their sight.  We've found several that have come into our shelter here in
NH who turned out to be blind.  Their former owners didn't even know.
Blind ferrets may run into things more often than sighted ones, but after
they learn the layout, get along very well.  Most are very nearsighted
anyway.  We have a black-eyed white that can only see things out to about
12 inches or so.  We determined that with a cat's toy fishing rod with a
cloth "mouse" on the end.  The ferret would chase the mouse as long as it
was no more than 12 inches in front of her.  More than that, she'd stop and
"look" all around for it, even if it were directly in front of her.
 
Snow: Someone ask for us to send snow out their way?  As far as I'm
concerned you can have all you want.  Just pay for the pickup and delivery.
I think I have enough in my yard to blanket a good sized ski resort <g>.
More coming down as I type.  Come and get it, PLEASE.
 
Dick B.
[Posted in FML issue 1440]