Some people have asked about my outdoor set-up so here's some answers. During good weather the ferrets usually get outside once a week. The other 6 days they have playtime loose in the house for 2 to 3 hours each group, except for the youngest ferret named Tyki who is out 4 to 6 hours with 2 different groups. Outside I have a double play yard (purchased from Ferret Depot) set on my decking in a part sun/part shade area. I want a permanant set-up but my husband is not a carpenter. I have tubes, blankets, toys, food, water bowl and a lasagna pan filled with warm water. When I say some of my ferrets snorkle, what they do is get in the water and push their heads around underwater, looking for what, I don't know...imaginary fish perhaps? The snorkling ferrets are also the ones that play in the bathtub and love their "showers" when I leave the faucet dripping. I also have a bin that was the bottom of an old cage that is filled with beach sand. They love to dig and roll in the sand. For Oliver, who is blind, deaf and has liver cancer, this is a little bit of heaven and he spends his entire time outside going bonkers in the sand. Dainty little Dax never puts her hind feet in the sandbox and simply goes around the edge digging with her front paws. The ones that dig are given lax when they get inside just in case they may have swallowed some sand. One person emailed me and said they used potting soil, but I have a box turtle and know that potting soil is never used for turtles because of the pesticides that are in it so I am assuming it would be harmful to ferrets also. They are never left alone outside and during the time outside they are individually given walks on the grass, either harnessed or loose depending on the ferret. I have 2 blind ferrets and a crippled ferret that don't need a leash because they just don't wander from my side. Most of my ferrets are older and ill....one person called my place "God's Waiting Room"....but I do have a couple of younger ferrets, one who was privately bred, HUGE, gorgeous and a jet-propelled nutcase! He is the only one that is not happy outside....he is afraid of birds. I can understand being afraid of the hawks and vultures which is one reason the ferrets are never outside alone and why I want a permanant place with a roof but the little songbirds singing send him diving under the blankets. He doesn't walk, run or dance around the play yard, he slinks, carefully looking around for "predators". I usually give in to him and cradle him like a baby for most of his outside time so that his imaginary monsters don't hurt him. And did I say that he is HUGE.... Nancy in OR with her oldies, sickies, reformed biters and one fraidy ferret.... [Posted in FML 6349]