Victoria - You said, "far from being afraid of heights, they seem totally *unaware* of heights. They don't even bother to hold on to me, and end up just slithering off my shoulder (and I have to catch them, or they'd fall to the ground)" My ferrets did this too... the trick was to *let* them fall to the ground! What I did was to practice a bit in my apartment, which is carpeted. I'd put them on my shoulder, and when they'd "slither" off, I'd *let* them fall... boink... they certainly didn't like it, but it didn't hurt them. Then I'd pick them up and put them right back. After falling off about 5 times, they quickly learned to hold on. Now, when I go outside, they faithfully stay on my shoulder. If they start getting antsy (sp?) on my shoulder outside, I stand on the grass and let them fall off... after about two times they'll stay on forever! Deisel (the weasel) and his faithful companion Keith. [Posted in FML issue 0718]