Hi,
 
I run a mailing list exclusively about ferrets.  Do you want to
join?  Your question is something discussed many times....
 
Anyways, to your question - it seems to me that he simply
realized that he could get away with mayhem.  People who you ask
to care for your ferret should realize that he's more than tough
enough to survive the occasional rough handling, and should have
his nose batted or rump swatted (gently of course) whenever he
steps out of line.  A "safer" way is to yell "NO!", or pick him
up.  Our ferret occasionally nips socks (with feet in them), but
we just pick her up and chastise her.  A ferret that bites hard
enough to hurt must be corrected.  Ours nip a lot, but never hard
enough to hurt.  None of ours have ever drawn blood.  She's good at
holding on though.
 
Other ferret toys?
    - mailing tubes big enough to run through.  (or 4" plastic pipe)
    - plastic golf balls (the hollow ones with holes).  Tough ones!
    - latex rubber squeaky dog toys.
 
We find that the cat toys (eg: polystyrene golf balls with bells in
them) are too fragile for a ferret.  One crunch and bye-bye!
                                                                          
[Posted in FML 0082]