First, you need to keep trying to catch Vinnie. I know that this is hard, but this is very important!! The fact that Vinnie is on his own and surviving so far, is what adds fuel to the opposition for legalizing ferrets in California and other places. Please take a moment to read about Randy Belair's experience if you haven't already. Go to <http://www.ferretaid.org/> and click on "About Us" to read about a ferret she tried to rescue. I don't what to see Vinnie go that way and I know you don't either. Please keep at it. Maybe some one at the lumberyard will be able to catch. Do they know to call you if that happens? Second, Leo, my fur babies actively hunt the shrews and voles that come into the house in the winter. I try to take their "prize" from them before they can eat it and give them a lick of ferretone instead. I talked to my vet about this and she advised me to bring in stool samples periodically for parasite testing. So there is a risk that they can pick up something nasty from eating mice and such. Talk to your vet and see how often they would want a sample. Now would also be a good time to remind everyone to beware when setting mouse traps. Be sure to place them where your fur kids can't get to them. I DO NOT recommend using D-con or other poison even if you place it out of the ferrets reach. Sometimes the mouse is not killed out right and may wander into the house and be killed by a fuzzie who then runs to risk of being poisoned. I've seen animals at the vets who have been accidentally poisoned this way and it wasn't a pretty sight! Survival rate is next to nil due to internal bleeding. So PLEASE be careful!! Hugs and Dooks, Cindy Michou and the gang at Hiland Ferrets [Posted in FML issue 5113]