To Dana concerning the water in the Crhistmas tree stand: Dana sorry to be so late in replying, but the network was down all weekend and everything kept bouncing... - the water won't hurt, but you can't put any type of tree preservative in it, because most of them are toxic. But is is common for ferrets to drink out of the stand. If the tree is flocked, that would also be toxic too. Bruce Williams, DVM Department of Veterinary Pathology [log in to unmask] Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (202) 782-2600/2602 Washington, D.C. 20306-6000 [Posted in FML issue 1034]