Hey, all. Thanks for letting me vent on the age thing. Just to clear up what someone replied...I didn't get a ferret and then wonder what to do when the parental units said no. (actually once they saw the gorgeous baby Raskolnikov, everyone in my family had to have a ferret or three...) After hearing stories about the abused ferrets (in fact, my Edie was abused by her former owner and was less than 0.75 lbs when found), I just wish that everyone loved and took care of their ferrets like they were human kids...and I wish it was always a logical and rational decision about the potential expense and time requirements when people see a cute kit in the petshop so we didn't have to have shelters full to the brim of sick ferrets in dire need of expensive medical care...I think there needs to be better education in the pet stores, which seem to be the most likely place for people to get their first ferret. I think people misunderstand ferrets when they don't know enough and it leads to frustration and disillusionment (especially if you purchased a nippy kit and have no experience in curing that). that's all I have to say on that, and most of that is anger over people I saw in a local petstore who were looking at the kits and said, "Oh they're so cute, I'd get one, but I'm afraid for my cat. You know, she just wouldn't have a chance--those things will rip the cat's throat out before it even has a chance.." AARGH! Okay...vent, vent. Here's my question. Has anyone made an outdoor playpen for their ferrets? I would like to gather information on how to make an outdoor place where the ferts can frolic through the grass and maybe even dig a bit, but I don't want them to be able to dig out or climb over the top....those are the big problems I'm facing. I'm not sure what all would be involved. I don't want to keep them outside, I just thought that since the weather (in Texas) this time of year is really mild, that they might enjoy getting outside for brief periods of time when not on their leashes. If anyone has constructed anything like this, let me know. (have fun, have ferrets) Kelly Reverend Maynard: "Outdoors is like one big potted plant, and I'll dig to china if need be...." Edie: "Outdoors is a myth the big ferrets made up to entertain us. There is only the thing 'yard.'" Cosette (the small): "What's outdoors?" [Posted in FML issue 1739]