Kg These girls just have no manners! Long, LONG ago, I too was a tween girl and OBSESSED with ferrets! I never encountered any ferret owners, but if I did, I would NEVER even think of opening up a cage and taking out someone else's ferret. I would have asked first, if they said yes, I would have waited for the owner to get one out for me to hold. I suggest putting on the cage the small paddle locks that are made for suitcases. They either take a small key or have a quick two digit combination. If you have the solid plastic type carrier, drill a little hole by the door and run a small chain through it and the door, then paddle lock the chain. That will stop the girls in their tracks from waking up the ferrets when your back is turned. Get some of the yellow "Caution/Do Not Cross" tape at the hardware store and string it, or zigzag it, a cross the top of the open pen when the ferrets are sleeping. If it is at all possible, just cordon off the entire area while they sleep. Even the boldest twe en girl will probably not be brave enough to cross that tape. Be gentle but firm with these girls and tell them that you must limit the handling of each ferret to one time, per person, per day. Say you don't want the ferrets getting overtired before other people have had a chance to hold them. Once the girls have had a turn, they are done for that day! When they keep coming back say, " Oh I'm sorry, you girls have already taken a turn holding them and now we have to give new people a chance before the ferrets are worn out; however, you are welcome to look at them all you want." If they won't listen, and pick the ferrets up anyway, gently take the ferrets from their hand, smile and say something very patronizing like, "Oh no, we can't let little Slinky Dink and Tid Bit go getting themselves all tired out and grumpy bumpy now can we?" and put them back in the pen. Then start stringing your caution tape and only let new comers hold them. Keep on doing the educational days, the public needs it! Ferrets are so cute and many people buy them on impulse without any knowledge of how to properly care for them. Don't let these ill mannered girls distract you; wear out your ferrets, or put a damper on your day. Pam [Posted in FML issue 4649]