List friends, In pondering and answering phone calls about ferrets I have come to a realization-- THERE ARE MANY of us ferret folks who in the name of total darkness for ferret health have overlooked the benefits of NATURAL sunlight and moreover the necessity of it for good ferret health. How many ferrets reside in family rooms or rooms without ANY exposure to daylight? Too many for my comfort. Many rescues come from basements and family rooms where there is little if any natural lighting. Most of these all are lacking healthy coats. A Healthy ferret requires DAYLIGHT else our ferrets would look like moles without the need for eyes! It should be an accepted fact- humans health fails when deprived of natural sunlight - both physically and mentally. As the animal used for human health medical research should we deny they also need natural light for health? Natural daylight IS a key component to good ferret health. In my rescue experience I have found ferrets deprived of daylight look adrenal-- once exposed to natural lights they hair grows back. That is a visible sign that lighting plays as much a part in health as darkness. BOTH ARE NEEDED. Besides the hair, Vitamins are gained from natural light-- ever noticed your cat basking in the sunlight- given the opportunity ferrets will also. The immune system needs recharging and natural light is a helpful component to a healthy immune system. I know we all still have a lot to learn on the best care for ferrets-- but lets not let the darkness requirement deprive our pets of healthy sunlight! Fondly in ferrets Alicia D www.ferretwise.org [Posted in FML issue 5192]