Someone inquired about setting up an outdoor playground for ferrets. I thought I'd share what I do, although it's rather unique and probably not a feasible set-up for most people. When my son was born, I decided that I no longer wanted our 21' above ground pool. I'd get another when he learned to swim. (Our pool is 5' deep, and I had a friend lose a 3 yr old in a pool). But I digress.... So I ripped out the pool liner and left the round aluminum frame. The bottom substrate is about 5 inches of sand. Below that is a significant layer of lava rock. Lava rock also surrounds the pool frame. Additionally, the pool-turned-playground is equipped with a removable ladder. Housed in the playground 8 months out of the year (yes, you heard me right) are 12 ferrets and a handful of smaller tortoises. The sand substrate allows for ample digging, but the lava rock prevents my ferrets from escaping. They've made some great burrows! The playground also contains a small hard plastic kiddy pool/sandbox (the green one shaped like a turtle). This is always filled to the top with fresh water. A dozen or so colorful plastic balls float on top. A cement block is directly outside of the pool so that they can get in it with no problem. Another cement block is actually in the wading pool to allow them to get out if they can't go over the side. Some of our ferrets actually swim like otters. Others just cautiously sneak sips here and there. They have burrowed beneath the pool and made multiple tunnels and sleeping areas. The plastic cover that came with the turtle pool is laying on the sand where they tunneled under that as well. The playground contains various logs, including a couple of hollowed out ones. Colorful discarded Little Tikes "furniture" allows them to explore and climb. They also provide great sleeping areas. PVC tubes are strewn about the ground. Some are elevated and run from log to log. Cement blocks (the 40lb rectangular monsters that have the two square openings in them) are arranged into multi-level climbing castles - great for the nails, too. The blocks are heavy enough and secured enough to not fall over. In the playground is an old aluminum fishing boat (about 8' long). It's on its side, leaning partially over and resting on a couple of logs. It provides the largest shaded area and protection from heavy rains. Under the boat is also where I keep the bowl of kibble (NOT free-fed) and a bowl of water. Additionally, I keep 3 medium-sized Tupperware bins under there - 1 filled with pine shavings, 1 filled with topsoil, and one filled with small pebbles. They do take advantage of these fun bins by playing and sleeping in them. In the middle of the playground I've placed 4 medium sized carriers (no doors) and arranged them in a circle with the openings facing inward. Each carrier also contains a hanging hammock. Over the carriers I placed another plastic kiddy pool top that serves as a roof. It's like 4 little bungalows under one roof. Also in the playground are several milk crates of various colors. A couple are right side up and contain hanging hammocks. A few are turned over. They look like little jails, but the ferrets can get out through the two small handle openings on each side. Over the past few years, quite a bit of vegetation has taken root in the playground. Sometimes it looks like a jungle in the playground, so I trim it back on occasion. It's so thick in some areas that the ferrets burrow into the middle of the clumps of grass and weeds and make nests in the cool shade they provide. I've had no problems with any of the vegetation present. The ferrets don't really nibble on it. The burrowing and playing had left the playground bottom "hilly" as opposed to flat. Some areas are packed hard. Other areas are still soft and sandy. We add sand every year too. Somewhere in there is a little tire hanging from a teepee shaped branch cluster. Doing a headcount for safety and health evaluations is challenging and takes a bit of creativity using various noises and banging of "stuff". Going in there to play with them and rearrange the d=E9cor is also challenging since my mob of ferrets include a few nippers, and you have to watch your step when treading through the "bush". I frequently throw goldfish in the pool, which I eventually have to remove and feed to my alligator after the ferrets lose interest in them. I also dump bags of crickets in there every once in a while, which "disappear" quickly. I feed a few other natural foods as well. Another enrichment I use is placing various "scents" in various areas through out the playground. Oh, and various little toys for them to claim and steal from each other are also present. So, what do I do when it's brutally hot out, which it's been here in Chicago for quite a while? I set up a hose to spray a heavy mist into the pool - sometimes a few times a day if needed. I let it spray until some areas of the playground are several inches deep with water. A few of the ferrets love to wade through and even roll around in the shallow pools. The vegetation gets soaked and makes the nest areas extra cool. The wet sand also provides a cooling atmosphere. While some of you may find parts of my set-up unacceptable (probably due to myths and misconceptions......and over-babying ferrets unnecessarily), I have to say that I have some of the happiest and healthiest ferrets I've ever seen. They've adapted to varying temperatures. They're wiser and safe from predators. They have dozens of various nesting choices. They're protected from the wind. They have many options to choose to protect themselves from the heat and rain. Their coats are beautiful and plush. They're also VERY clean and virtually odor-free. They're muscular and full of energy. All of them, including the nippers, are exceeding friendly and loving. I still bring them to educational programs. None of them, including the elder ferrets (6-9 yrs), are suffering from the typical ferret maladies I all-too-often read and hear about. I haven't lost a personal ferret in a very long time. Owner give-ups also thrive. Although there's some infrequent squabbling that occurs amongst the ferrets, they seem to accept each other more readily in this open environment. The main keys to safe and effective outdoor housing are: Escape proof(!!!!!!), multiple shelters including shade, comfortable and varying substrates, ample water, provisions to protect from heat and cold, an abundance of enriching "stuff" and opportunities, protection from predators, and continuing human interaction and affection. **Some playground perimeters might be best if the base is buried a foot or so beneath the ground So, that's what I do. I'd hope that some of you would extract some valuable information from this, which will enrich your ferrets' lives and promote good health. You'd be surprised at how tossing some old misconceptions will yield some amazingly positive results. Give it a try. Kim Schilling Author, Ferrets for Dummies Director, Animals for Awareness [Posted in FML issue 4944]