I have two male ferrets, Itchy and Scratchy. They have been together since I got them 18 months ago. Yesterday, Scratchy disappeared as I was getting ready to go to bed. He loves to hide and has done this before, and he always reappears the next morning - either caught in a closet or cabinet, or sleeping behind the washer, etc. So I have learned not to make a big deal out of it (especially because it just upsets my 5 year old daughter). However, this morning he did not appear, and it has now been about 30 hours since I last saw him. We had company last night and someone did leave the house once without warning me. She swears she closed the door and was conscious of the ferrets - and also says she saw him after she came back - but I can not think of any other time he could have gotten outside. I have turned the house upside down at least 3 times, and he is nowhere to be found! Even if my visitor was not completely honest, how likely is it that a ferret who has never been outside would bold into very cold weather (we live just north of New York City)? I am not sure what I expect from the group, but I am really worried and am not sure what else to do..... Can a ferret survive in freezing temperatures (at least there is no snow)? Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks. [Posted in FML issue 5118]