For the second time in a week, we received a call said to be from the
Dartmouth Museum of Science (or something like that).  They have a wildlife
exhibit in their children's section.  Their ferret had died and they were
looking for a replacement.
 
It appears that this museum displays the ferrets in a cage, and tells the
children that the ferret is a predator, and a wild animal.  They apparently
drop crickets in the cage to show the children how the ferret "attacks" and
eats the crickets.
 
We tried to explain that ferrets are no more wild than a pet dog or cat;
that they've been domesticated for at least 2500 years; that they do not
exist in the wild; that they are a companion animal who need human love and
attention, and would not do well in a cage for the rest of their lives; and
that we felt that the museum should not be spreading false information.
 
The caller's comments were: "Well, I thought I could talk you into giving us
a ferret, but I guess not.  <click>."
 
<sigh>
 
Dick B.
[Posted in FML issue 1760]