>She gets along well with the other ferrets (my roommate has three), but she >attacks humans. She's drawn blood on my roommate and I almost every day. >I've tried nose thumping, caging, bitter apple, holding by the scruff of the >neck, holding her on her back, cooing and petting, squealing in pain, and >loud outbursts of frustration (well, those were involuntary). Nothing but >nothing seems to make an impression. I have a fuzz ball like that. The key to convincing her not to bite was to convince her not to bite one person, than another, than another. The way I did this was to wait for her to chomp, then grab her by the scruff of the neck hold her on her back and SCREAM at her from about an inch away from her head - and keep it up for 5-10 minutes (naturally this doesn't work on deaf ferrets). It took about 4-5 repetitions for this to work, although she still occasionally nips (5 years later). This was a technique of last resort, and I wouldn't recommend it if you hadn't already tried everything else. It is very stressful for ferret and friend - Lulu actually cried once when I did this (and I cried afterwards several times) - but if there is no other way, then there is no other way. I still never let anyone handle her unless they are aware that she is a biter. I'm sure you already know this, but I've found that with biters it is important to never pull away from a bite - if the ferret bites and holds, push back toward them. Wow, do they hate that - and it helps reinforce that you are not playing! Gwen ___________________________________ Gwen M. Daley [log in to unmask] http://www.vt.edu:10021/G/gdaley/gmd.html 4044 Derring Hall Department of Geological Sciences Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0420 ___________________________________ [Posted in FML issue 1901]