Many of you will remember that last year I had about 20 ferrets from the MSPCA to place after the DMK rescue in Ohio. One pair, Isadora and Duncan were a champagne jill (motherly sort) and albino hob who slept a lot. I soon discovered he was deaf and that he was willing to play if someone woke him up. Isadora was quite protective of him. After several homes fell through, Diana D. agreed to add them to her business. Well, one day I "kidnapped" them. It started as a joke, but she allowed me to keep them in my room and I soon discovered that this big ol' boy had a partial cauliflower ear and an infection in it, which is why he was so eager to rip your face off if you touched him. After stopping the pain and experiencing a rollover, this boy became a lovey-dovey thang, giving me face washes and wet willies. When I got back to MA with them after I got another car, Diana said, "I'm not getting him back, am I?" Uh, I quickly said, "I don't think so." I felt bad, but not bad enough to refuse the offer! So, Issy and Duncan became officially mine in June (THANK YOU, DIANA!). Presently I am at my mother's in Louisiana - supposed to be writing my dissertation. Instead I am working hurricane duty for the Red Cross and Noah's Wish. Being here, the ferrets are caged, each in half of a FN cage and they get their exercise twice daily in the back yard and the garage. I was able to make a fence with the playpens and block off about a 20 foot square area and put out a pool and give them access to the gardens and grass. They love it! And, we can go out after dark or in the day light, too. Because of Duncan's personality change, Issy no longer feels the need to protect him. So, she has become much more independent. In fact, a couple of weeks ago there was a cicada sitting on one of the mats. I didn't think anything about it, but Issy did! She grabbed it and ripped it in two and I think she ate the abdomen half! Then I caught her chasing a roach across the garage floor! Several days ago I caught her with a baby turtle and saved him from her teeth, moving it to get it out of the ferret play area. Today I caught her chasing a wasp. Issy STALKS stuff in the yard - not sure what it is, but it sure is funny to watch! Isadora is no longer the timid little thing who sits and quakes! She is the mighty HUNTRESS, the PRINCESS with self-confidence! What a change a year can make! -- Renee Downs "Eventually we will realize that if we destroy the ecosystem we destroy ourselves." Jonas Salk "The most effective way to do it, is to do it." Amelia Earhart It's amazing how much can be accomplished if nobody cares who gets the credit! Ferret Emergency Response, Rescue & Evacuation Team (F.E.R.R.E.T.) http://www.ferretemergency.org [log in to unmask] International Ferret Congress http://www.ferretcongress.org American Red Cross http://www.redcross.org [Posted in FML 6094]