Someone was worried about their ferret getting the sniffles- yes,
ferrets catch human colds and other respiratory problems fairly easily.
Some vets will suggest using infant decongestant nose drops to help the
ferret feel better (let them prescribe the dosage!), but be sure to see your
vet if the ferret has more than just an occasional little sneeze.  Pneumonia
can set in fast!
 
    Weasels have a reputation for savagery among many people who live in the
country, and of course some of this bad pr rubs off on ferrets.  It is true
that a weasel will enter a hen-house and kill all the chicks in a nest, or
more adult chickens than it could eat in a week.  A game warden in Germany
explained to me that weasels will sometimes cache their kills, and of course
a female with a litter to feed will require a lot of meat.
 
     Recommended reading: The Natural History of Weasels and Stoats, by
Carolyn King.   I got my copy from E.W. Hamilton mailorder books.
[Posted in FML issue 1348]