Jen Excellent post! To me one of the most important points you make is > *set up situations in which the ferret cannot bite you.* I'm a coward when it comes to getting bit, and practically swoon when I read of people who calmly deal with ferrets latched onto their appendages while blood drips to the floor! So my techniques involve avoiding giving the ferret the opportunity to bite. Biting is learned behavior; by not having the opportunity to bite, the ferret learns it can get along without that behavior. The "weapons" in my arsenal are a bottle of ferretone, long-sleeved shirts and long jeans. Most ferrets will not bite if they are given the option of licking from a ferretone bottle instead! And most ferrets will not bite through clothes (socks and gloves seem to be exceptions!) Here are some techniques I've used to work with biters without becoming a victim myself. This has worked with both fear biters and young ferrets who haven't been handled and don't know better. To pick up a biter, offer the ferretone (linatone, ferretvite, or whatever) bottle, and while he is distracted, pick him up with the other hand. Place him on your arm, head towards the elbow (you do have long sleeves on, right?) Pet him a few times and then put him down *before* he gets antsy. Move slowly and talk gently. At first you might need a helper to hold the ferretone bottle to distract the biting end while you pet the back. Be careful not to overdose on the ferretone; dispense a few drops at first and then just let him lick the bottle top. BTW, I don't put ferretone on my hands--to me that's too much of an invitation to take a taste! To teach a biter to play nice, sit on the floor with your vulnerable feet tucked under you and your hands away from the ferret. Let the ferret loose with some toys to play with. Eventually he will approach you to investigate. (You should be in a small room so he can't just go away and hide from you.) Talk to him nicely. If he tries to take a taste, say "No Bite!" sternly, but do not yell or scream. Don't offer him any flesh as an easy target. Eventually he will get used to approaching you without biting. Try petting his back as he goes past you. He should be used to that by now from your picking him up. After he is used to that, try offering him your hand to sniff. Make a fist and offer the knuckles, that way if he bites, there's no flesh to dig his canines into! If he tries to bite, say "No Bite!" and remove your hand. Try not to move too fast or you'll just startle him. Once he is used to your presence and hands, toss toys for him to chase, wave a small towel for him to grab, use a puppet that clearly does not look like a hand, etc. In other words, engage him in playing with YOU. Don't offer ferretone at this time or he may decide to clamber in your lap looking for it, putting your face and hands in a vulnerable position. If he gets to excited and nippy, use the ferretone bottle to pick him up and put him in his cage to calm down, and try again later. Over time, which may be weeks or months, your ferret will learn that you are a source of treats and playtime, and that biting is not necessary to get what he wants or protect himself. Be patient, and remember, there have been MANY MANY stories of reformed biters on this list, and only a very few that didn't come around with love and patience. Linda Iroff Oberlin OH [Posted in FML issue 3089]