From a previous post: >My nephew wasin the other room squeaking one of the louder dog toys when >he appeared in my bedroom minutes later with the most solemn look on his >face andtiny puncture marks in his cheek. I asked him, "Zach honey, >what'swrong," With his feelings hurt more than the wound on his cheek he >sobbed, "Dustbuster bit me." Upon hearing this squeak toy, Dusty tore >across the room on to the chair and latched on to Zach's face. I'm really sorry, but this is hilarious. When I read this I was picturing a ferret flying across the room (literally flying, mind you, lol), hopping up onto the chair in a single bound, and with big cartoon teeth latching onto poor Zach's face with a big Batmanesque CHOMP! No offense meant. I know ferret bites hurt. My granddaughter stuck her tongue out at my albino Puffy while she was eating, Big mistake. Tongues bleed alot for awhile. She needed stitches. I know. I have a strange sense of humor because that was kinda funny too. That's probably because I only heard about it and wasn't present to hear the screaming and the crying. Anyways, she doesn't stick her tongue out at Puffy anymore. Ferret lesson #1 well learned. All this being said and done, I know that "technically" this description of a "killing frenzy" is somewhat accurate. My take on the sqeak toy is that the ferret hears the "squeaking" of a ferret in distress and comes to that ferret's aid. It's self preservation. A business would want to fend off attacking predators for the benefit of all. Lots of times I see behaviours that can be interpreted better if you imagine the ferret in the wild. Why do they like rustling paper/plastic? Maybe it sounds like leaves in a forest. Why do they sleep hidden and in the dark? Again, self-preservation. And there are many more examples of this if you think about it. You can take the weasel out of the woods, but you can't take the woods out of the weasel. Anyways, the words "ferret" and "killing frenzy" together just tickle my funny bone. I don't know who originated this phrase but I want to thank them. I ain't had alot to laugh about lately, so you'll all have to forgive me, lol. Roary & Yvonne Albuquerque, NM [Posted in FML issue 4379]