Allergies: yep, we've seen the same pattern in multiple family members when you include our extended family and have heard of it with others: allergies to the musk of whole males and to adrenal males (whose hormones can cause a simulation of being whole), with them being strongest in some folks who are also allergic to cats. Owl: A very long time ago now (at least 15 years, probably closer to 17 to 19) we were taking a walk while holding Haleakala and were mobbed by a very large owl. No matter what we would do the owl would return; even hiding her didn't work -- at least by itself. Finally, I shoved Hale down the collar of my clothing and made bird chin lift swallowing motions. Apparently, that convinced the owl that I had eaten Hale and it left. BTW, they are really quiet on approach and it is a little startling how large the big ones are close up (like pretty well literally in your face) when their wings are extended, so be careful to keep a good grip. Wendy Winstead's book is very out-dated but still a fun read. She passed away of a very untimely malignancy many years ago now. Talk about fascinating people! She is probably the person who first popularized ferrets as a domestic companion animal in the U.S. decades ago, was a physician, and was a very accomplished song writer. The celebrity photographs and names in there are not publicity stunts; they are people she knew directly or through others because of her work who then became friends or her's. Some of them had ferrets from her, openly or secretely. We used to have one of her kits: Fritter looked greatly like one of the ferrets she photographed a lot. It's been a long time now, but I think McGuinn was the ones who was an ancestor of Fritter's. [Posted in FML issue 4460]