Since Bob C. has been talking about species and subspecies, I have a question. We got our ferret a year ago. When he came home, I read every ferret book I could find in the library. In one of them, the author intimated that the ferrets used for hunting 50 or so years ago were larger and more aggressive than our pet ferrets of today. Is this true or not? Also, only having been on the list since January (when I read Ferrets for Dummies), sometimes I have trouble telling where the shelters with adoptables are. Are there any shelters in Kansas? Our Sparky was a rescue that lived first in an aquarium and then in a cage in a cat room at a boarding kennel for 7+ months before we brought him home. When we got him in a 3 level cage, he had to learn how to climb to the upper levels. We introduced him to ferrettone and laxatone and real ferret food and treats. We watched him bloom and start doing ferretity things like climbing and jumping. We think that he is about 2 years old. He weighs 2 lbs. We think that he is a Marshall's ferret. Our vet did not do the ADV test when they took him in as a rescue. Does he need it? He has had two successful shots for rabies and distemper. (I was so paranoid when I took him in for his shots this year after all I've read here.) We are looking for another rescue ferret, preferably his age and size, but we were thinking about a little girl. Whoever we adopt, the most important thing is that we get a good playmate for him. He is cute and mischievous and uses his litter box, but does not like to be held or cuddled. I guess his free time is too precious to use it being held. That is our only problem with him. Unfortunately, our present house does not allow him to roam without supervision. If we ever move, which we are talking about, there will be a ferret room. Oh, by the way, I enjoyed the way the recent story about the ferrets going into the forest to the raisin tree ended. Thanks, Nancy Wichita [Posted in FML issue 4570]