Marshall Farms is the larest single breeder of ferrets in this country. If you get your ferret at a pet store it is most likely a Marshall Ferret. If you already have your ferret and it came from Marshall then you have nothing to be concerned about. They are fine ferrets - personalities better than most other breeders (including my own). Don't worry about the trash talk going around it has been circulating for years. [Moderator's note: It may be trash talk to you, but it is a genuine concern to others. I'm not taking sides in this issue, per se, but I am insulted by any subscriber labeling the opinions of others as "trash talk" - plenty of GOOD evidence was presented on both sides of the issue to enable readers to make up their own minds about this. Please, you don't need to try to make their decisions for them. And ditto for the anti-MF folks too, please! BIG] What the tattoos were originally was an internal method for MF to know whether a kit had been neutered or not. Other breeders have started to use the same markings - some for the same reason - others to sneak ferrets into pet stores without bothering to neuter them. Msot of the latter seem to be somewhere in the South. Don't worry about the tattoos. If you have a good ferret it is really the most important thing isn't it? bill and diane killian zen and the art of ferrets [Posted in FML issue 1319]