Okay - I think there was a mix up at Marshall Farms. I have two beautiful, gregarious sable ferrets (Fee and Milly Grace). Despite their Marshall Farms certificate and physical appearance, there is nothing ferret-like about them! Okay, well maybe the pooping thing. They are quite spoiled, although they prefer to be called "sophisticated." They hate ferret treats - except Cheerios, which isn't even technically a ferret treat. They prefer the dresser drawer (especially the one with the cashmere sweaters in it - ARGH) to their many sleep sacks and hammocks. Fee begs like a dog when anyone sits at the table or attempts to cook anything in the kitchen. They eschew ferret toys in favor of cat bizzy balls, mini M&M containers and little people (the Fisher Price child toys). Oh yeah, and Fee's bear. With the exception of shoes and the remote control, they do not take anything that isn't theirs. They come running out of their sleep den when someone buzzes the apartment buzzer to inspect anyone who dares to cross the threshold of their home - food delivery people especially. They HATE going outside and act as if it is some sort of torture to be in any sort of natural environment. They hate the beach. They hate the "field" that is my Mother's back yard. Snow? You've got to be kidding me. Their pristine feet would rather be bound together than subjected to the cold and wet. They don't like to swim in the tub - even when the weather is hot and humid. So, I read with great amusement all of the stories of ferret behavior since after almost 4 years, I have yet to see it from my own ferrets! Could they be defective or just completely adapted to urban living? Sorry for the silliness - just thought we could all use a little more of it! Melissa Sullivan [Posted in FML issue 3341]