I've really been enjoying everyone's stories lately about ferret antics, and also send my sincerest get-well wishes to anyone's whose fuzzbean is sick. What's in a name? to Linda re: Munchie: I think names are very important. Myself, I would change Munchie's name since she's a biter, to something much more mellow, like Sweetpea or Angel, because I think names reinforce how we feel about them. Good luck, I'm glad you were able to take her in. To Robert the new ferret owner--it's very gratifying to hear about people who really look into a particular animal before getting one and then are very happy with their decision. It helps to hear stories like this to balance out the negative ones! Good luck and wishing you lots of happiness! On ferrets that wake up with a start--all 3 of my fuzzies wake up differently. Sometimes (but not always) Cinderella literally jumps up and out of bed (or wherever she's sleeping). Then she stretches and yawns and falls over and all that cute stuff. Ralph gets up more slowly but is raring to go once he's up ("okay, I'm up, what can I get into??????") Norman likes to sleep in; he usually gets up a bit after Ralph and takes his time before deciding what to wreak havoc upon. I cleared out some space under a shelf in the bathroom the other day, where the baseboard goes through the wall. Not long after, I noticed that Ralph had suddenly disappeared from his self-appointed job of helping unpack the groceries. Since Norman was still busy going through the bags, I found it highly suspicious that Ralph was no longer around (a mother's intuition or something). So I went looking for him and sure enough, he had torn away some of the plasterboard and gotten into the wall in the bathroom by the baseboard. He seemed unhappy and was trying to get out (but of course, couldn't get himself back *out* the way he got in.) So I took out another chunk of plasterboard and got him out--really, you make a minor change and they have to investigate!!! That's what I get for cleaning! And the very clever solution, thought up by a fellow FMLer, was to stick a floor tile over the plasterboard. Works very well, thanks :-) [Moderator's note: clever folks, these FML people. Glad to see there is contact among subscribers even outside of the FML. BIG] Re: silly toys--one of Ralph's favorites is a rolling eyeball-- about an inch and a half in diameter, and the eyeball is always looking straight up--he pushes it around and actually gets his teeth around it and takes it off to his hiding place. What makes it look so silly is the eyeball, though you do have to be careful as there is oil inside and they occasionally leak, so I only let him have it if I'm around and can keep an eye on it, so to speak. Re: is two more fun than one? It's a whole different experience. The trick is to get two that are compatible. But there's nothing funnier than watching Ralph and Norman bouncing up and down chasing each other through the house, or literally throwing themselves on top of each other, falling off the bed and doing it again, or getting into mischief together. I think they get into much more trouble than a single ferret, but they're hysterical to watch. Sorry, but I also need to comment on declawing ferrets. I hope some day the US follows the policy of European countries that have outlawed cosmetic mutilation of animals. No operation is truly simple--it is always a risk to go under anesthesia. And the skill with which vets declaw varies greatly--there are many horror stories along with the ones that go well. But ultimately, I agree with Johan, that you are limiting the animal's normal behavior. And having had a hand operated on, I can say that it is an extremely sensitive area of the body and was a very painful experience. On a more positive note--the Mass. group is moving right along re: legislation thanks to Bill W and Dick Bossart and everyone else; here's hoping for a positive outcome this year! --Ronnie; (Cinderella, Norm & Ralph's mom) [Posted in FML issue 1117]