That loose ferret near my stream has been caught! I was correct in as much as it was a ferret and it was eating cat food left out for neighbors cats. Early this morning that neighbor called me in a very exciting tone stating there was 'that ferret' in her yard and was eating the cat food off her deck. The ferret would get on the deck, take a mouth full of kibble and retreat back to the edge of her basement to chow down. I immediately got dressed and went over to the neighbor's house which is about 4 houses down the street, actually another street that intersects with mine. I very carefully and quietly opened her fence and made way to the back yard. There it was! She was busy chomping on kibble. I knew this was the only time I would have a chance to catch this animal so was very slow and cautious. All at once she spotted me and froze. That was a good sign. If she ran it would have been a trial to get her where the back of this yard again butts up against the woods and I would have to scale a tall chain link fence to pursue. With the ferret frozen in its tracks I began talking in soft easy tones to it. No fast movements now, just talk. I did this for about 10 minutes, this seemed to at least not bother her so I began a slow approach still talking bit stopping frequently to help maintain the frozen state. I got right up to her and she began to bunch up which may have been a prelude to a bolt. I just kept talking and keeping my eyes on her. Slowly I leaned down and began to reach out, she remained frozen. We both kept our eyes glued to each other's eyes, I kept talking to her and just gently grasped her about the middle while talking to her. Success ! I had her ! The neighbor came out happy I got the ferret, more so where it was eating up cat food her cats needed. Sheesh, how much can a ferret eat in a day? Then she said another neighbor told of a person that was searching for a 'loose' ferret. We phoned that now third neighbor who remembered the name of the person seeking the animal. We looked in the phone book and found more than a dozen names of the same spelling. Sheesh! Ok, hunt is on again . So we began to call each and every one. After many attempts we found someone who did loose a ferret and in this area ! They had the ferret in the car with them and was dropping stuff of at a Salvation Army Collection point. The ferret must have escaped while the door was open and no one noticed for a bit giving the animal time to scoot off to shrubs and hiding. The ferret wandered around being trapped by that stream and roads, which really does not stop them at all but the stream seemed to keep at least a more narrow wander area. That is why it was in my back yard about 1/4 mile from the drop off point. So it never did move far off but did wander around behind a dozen or so houses. It was extremely lucky a big snake, and there are many here, didn't have it for lunch ! So the owned came with a carrier. She was happy as one can get to have her fuzzy back. It was a very happy reunion and for sure being loose in the car will never happen again. Was a simple error in judgment that nearly cost the ferret but a happy ending did happen. Made me happy too ! Word to the wise, a ferret can escape in a heart beat. Has happened to me several times. If the animal is loose, be sure to have your eyes ON the animal before opening a door or closing a door. Either way that door can end the life of a much valued fuzzy friend. Gordon, Peekaboo and Pester Aarrow-Ranch Aviation Mechanicsville, Virginia, 23111 USA [Posted in FML 6013]