Pandas start out as pandas. Other ferrets may try to mimic them in the winter, but the sham will collapse next spring. The winter coat involves growing a lot more underfur, which is usually white or very light. The overfur fluffs out and the denser underfur shows more. The head has less long guard hair than the body and is more affected. The effect is to lighten the look to a more whitish cast and the mask might decrease in size. Come the spring, the true colors will return. We've got photos of our ferrets in their various fur phases and the changes over the years are surprising. ( )--(a) (@=@=) \ Till next time.......Rudy the ferlosopher O__) \ \___ \ \ /\ * ) \ [Posted in FML issue 1387]