I read the piece on the New Hampshire health warning, and I think I found the book that they took the text from. I found this book in my local library: Killer Animals by Edward R. Ricciuti Published in 1976 by Walker Publishing Co., Inc. (U.S.) Fitzhenry & Whiteside (Canada) On page #185: (taken without permission) Among other small mammels that people sometimes keep as pets is the ferret, which is the domesticated version of the European polecat (Mustela putorius). Ferrets still retain many of the characteristics of their wild relatives, although they normally can be handled with ease. Because of the damage they could do to small game, however, many states forbid people to keep ferrets, but in the past they were used extensively to hunt rabbits and rats. Even in places where possession of ferrets is permitted, it is not at all wise to allow them the run of the house, as some people do. The late Lee S. Crandall of the Bronx Zoo once told me that a bite by a pet ferret was one of the worst animal bites he had ever seen. The ferret, he said, was owned by a family which had a small child. One day while the child was sleeping, the ferret slipped into the youngster's room, and tore off much of the child's face. This is not to say that when under the strictest supervision children should not be allowed to touch ferrets. Indeed, they make excellent demonstration animals for lessons on natural history. But, after all, the ferret is a weasel with all the savagery of that tribe of animals, and even in domestication has functioned primarily as a killer of other creatures. End Quote. I live in New York State and here is another quote at the bottom of the "Ferret License Application" Warning From the New York State Health Department As a prospective purchaser of a pet ferret you need to be aware that ferrets may for some unknown reason attack humans, especially babies and young children. There have been reports, in this state as well as across the country, of ferrets crawling into cribs and inflicting multible bites on babies. They have also without warning, attacked young children sitting or playing on the floor. If you have a baby or young children in your home it is essential that if you purchase a ferret it must be kept in a secure cage at all times. In addition, although rabies in ferrets is rare (there have only been six (6) reported cases since 1980) they are susceptible to this virus and there is no licensed rabies vaccine for ferrets. Should your ferret be involved in a biting incident, your health department would require that it be killed and submitted to a laboratory to rule out rabies. End Quote. Not to take up too much more space, Chris... I've been reading the FML for about a month and a half now, and finally have subscribed. I have a ferret that was born in the first week of April (1st) 1993. Her name is Feasel, and she is the cutest thing you've ever seen. Um, and one more question: What is a FFZ? Thanks... Christian Miller [Posted in FML issue 0540]