Maren, your post struck a note in my heart. This was the issue, years ago, which affected our decision not to adopt out to the general public. Unfortunately, feeding ferrets to snakes is somewhat common out there :( Our story dates back to November of 1998. At that time, we had only rescued 6 or 7 ferrets. We were very new at the whole thing--and very in love with ferrets already. We had rescue cards printed up, and placed them at a couple of pet stores, and hung them on some bulletin boards. One afternoon, I was at Petco, buying food for the ferrets, when I noticed a college kid wearing an NIU sweatshirt. He was standing at the hexagon ferret tank, looking at the baby ferrets. (We are about 20-25 minutes from Northern Illinois University) I approached him, and started up a conversation. "Aren`t they cute?" I gushed. He said "I`m waiting for them to go on sale. They`re gourmet, you know." I shot him a look, thinking he was joking--but he was dead serious, and continued on. "Yeh--when they go on sale, I pop for one for my snake sometimes. He loves them. And me & my friends look in the paper for the `Free to good home` ads too--we get a lot of them that way" He told me what kind of snake he had, and what kind of snakes a couple of his friends had. (I can`t remember what they were now.) I have a pretty strong stomach, but , like you, Maren, I thought I was going to hurl, right there, in the middle of the store!!! During the drive home, I envisioned a poor little ferret, pleading for help from the human who had placed it in the enclosure with a snake. Knowing the danger it was in---and no way out... A few weeks later, we got a call at 9:00pm. A male voice said to my husband "Yeh--How late are you open. I need a ferret" Kurt said "Oh, that`s my wife`s department. Here"--and handed me the phone. I asked him if he would like to come the next day & meet our babies, and began to talk about them. He interrupted me, saying "Never mind." and hung up. At that point, Kurt & I decided that Zoo`s Ferret Sanctuary would not be adopting out to the general public. We only send them home with people we know & trust. I realize that snakes have to eat too---they just won`t be eating OUR kids. Bless your heart for saving those babies, Maren. All our best to Raisins From Heaven Ferret Rescue & Sanctuary. Love, Zoo [Posted in FML 6383]