This is in reply to Chris and Scooter from Billingham Wash, First my name is Bob Nixon from the Phoenix Area, I currently have just 1 Ferret "Golum" He is my Eight ferret. I lost 3 this last year due to old age and cancer. Arizona politics concerning Ferrets is very good compared to some places in the USA. There are lots of midwestern transplants in Phoenix, where Ferrets seem to be very popular. If you subsribe to *STAR* you will see that, for a small state there are quite a few Ferret organizations in AZ. The Central AZ Ferret Club, the organization that I am a member has about 150 "active members". We have on sereral occasions has speakers from the Phoenix Zoo speaking on the captive breading program for the Black Footed Ferrets of which the Zoo is an active participant. There are future plan to release the BF-Ferrets in northern AZ. We have Domestic Ferrets available from Pet Store (Mashall Farms Bred) and a local network of breeders. I don't know what the local ferret population is but availability and veteranary care is good for the furries here. We even had Suzanne Resinger also known as the Ferret Lady featured in one of the local newpapers in a 3 page color spread on ferrets. Our availability is also suplemented by rescue's from California. Currently they are flown in and picked up at the Airport from L.A. Now for the down side! As you are probably aware, Phoenix has 4 to 5 months a year with average high temperatures >100 deg f. Ferrets start to overheat about 85. We must be extremely careful with Ferret's outside and espesially in cars in the summer. An emply 12 oz. soft drink plastic bottle filled with water, then Frozen and put in the Ferrets's carrier before embarking anywhere as well as PreCooling the car before leaving with the ferrets. Car temps. with windows up and no sunshades can exceed 150 deg f. in the summer Thats about it. Chris thanks for getting me on the mailing list. We will pass it around and I will respond to any questions our member may have BOB Nixon on Compuserve 72702,3713 or internet address is [log in to unmask] [[log in to unmask] doesn't work worth a darn, in case you wondered why you didn't get subscribed at that address.] [Posted in FML issue 0833]