Ferrets were classed as vermin along with polecats from the 1300s in the UK I expect they were in Germany as well. Feral ferrets are shot every year in Britain around game rearing pens I would be very surprised if the same thing did not happen in Germany. In 1981 polecats were protected here. Chris As far as I know feral ferrets are still classed as vermin in the UK. The Wessex Ferret Club http://www.ferrets-r-us.co.uk/ The Woolston D&F Club http://www.btinternet.com/~chris.lloyd2/ ICQ no. 44575318 [Posted in FML issue 3804]