I was asked to post this letter, written jointly by a New Hampshire Ferret Owner's Coalition and Dr. Judith Bell, concerning the use of wood chips for ferret bedding. It was written to inform Pet Stores and owners of the inadvisability of using wood chips as bedding. --- A clarification is needed concerning the picture of ferrets on wood chips that is in one of the publications put out by Marshall Pet Products. The chips shown are NOT pine or cedar but are aspen chips or shred, a product that is heat treated to sterilize it. Aspen chips are relatively dust free and odor free. Pine chips may be moldy and dusty. Pine chips carry bacteria that can cause urinary problems in ferrets ( Proteus species and others ) and molds that can cause problems with the respiratory tract and the eyes of the ferret. Ferrets do not come from Marshall Farms with the 'colds' found in the petshops of New Hampshire. It is what the animals are being bedded on that is causing the respiratory problems. Keeping a ferret or any other small animal in an aquarium has a new set of problems. The damp and stale air causes respiratory prblems. The dampness is caused by the animals' own urine! It is unsanitary and unhealthy to keep any animal except a fish in an aquarium. In conclusion, please use the Plexiglas product that is provided by Marshall Pet or a large cage that has corncob bedding in it to prevent these problems if your shop sells ferrets. Corncob bedding is dust-free and safe. Add one litter box, some sleep sacks or sleep tubes or a small plastic box and your ferret kits or adults will be happy and healthy future pets. It is advisable to keep the cage out of reach of small fingers. When you take your ferret home, please be sure to keep your pet in a large cage with old towels or corncob bedding so that no harm comes to your pet's paws, lungs, eyes or urinary system. [Original signed by:] Beverly Briggs ( N.H.F.O.C. ) Dr. Judith A. Bell DVM, PhD ( Marshall Farms Staff Veterinarian ) . [Posted in FML issue 1259]