In the wild carnivores eat other animals. Although we are not in a wild state anymore, we continue to eat animals on a daily basis. Snakes, Coyotes, bears, wolves and many other animals stalk and kill other animals for food. Usually the first to get taken are the old and feeble. Is a seemingly cruel way to go but also it keeps only healthy animals roaming about. Once I put a cloth mouse in the cage with Byte-me, she instantly attacked it and her innate background came out in full force. That was interesting to watch and I thought of getting a live one to see how she would respond but never did. The 'farmed' mice may have a gene for developing cancer in labs but that will only be digested and will not affect the ferret. Ferrets are carnivores and if they will attack and kill the mouse and then eat it that is just part of nature but not necessary for them to live in your house. I did have a field mouse find a way into the house and it came every night. Then I kept the ferts out every night and the mouse never came back. I never saw any sign of the fert having caught and consuming that mouse but it worked to rid the house of the vermin! Aarrow Ranch Aviation Rev. J Gordon Bengtson 7302 Hunterbrook Drive, Suite 100 Mechanicsville, Va. 23111 USA [Posted in FML issue 5200]