Mukluk is an amazing little creature that has learned his name in only the first few days of living here. He has chosen a spot behind the triple dresser on top of the base board heater to sleep, a most uncomfortable place for sure but he likes it. He was there all night and I woke up in the dead of night and called his name only twice. In a little bit I heard the quiet movements of him moving about behind that dresser and then this thump of him jumping onto the end of my bed. He is a very heavy and large ferret so the bed end bent to the floor which levered the front side straight up and down leaving me sleeping in bed standing up still in the bed. Hmmmm. That was Mukluk coming to me. He curled up beside my head so nice and quiet. I reached over and put my hand on him, he licked my fingers and dooked a little. For sure that made this huge smile grow on my face. How can you ask for any more from a ferret ??? What he was saying was "I am comfortable with you and I trust you. I hear you call my name and gladly here I am. " Mukluk is a very clean ferret and always uses his litter box for his 'business'. He loves that hidy hole I made but he is so huge he barely fits thru the door hole. But he does. He hates that 'J' feeder and will dig all the kibble out of it so I have to use the bowl Jeep used. That works. When I open the cage door he comes to me and rolls onto his back for me to rub his belly and that is a most critical statement where he exposes the most vulnerable part of him to me. That is a pure sign of trust and acceptance. He knows his name for sure. He will be sleeping or doing whatever a ferret does and I can be talking but when I say his name he stops kind of freezes and looks straight at me. He does not know a single word I say but he does know his name when I say it out loud even when he is sleeping and he responds every time. Not instantly but he does respond. Now that alone is amazing ! He is still learning his new environment but is doing first rate. Jeep was here only a short time when he crossed the bridge at only 18 months old. I believe he had an intestinal blockage from chewing on plastic sheeting. Another good little guy that I dearly miss. But I did rescue Mukluk from a store that could not sell him so he was old when I got him. He is a very good little animal and I am glad to have him. It seems he is glad to be had !!! Ha ! Gordon and Mukluk _12-2Addy CEO [Posted in FML 7901]