>Got a call from a woman yesterday who has a young female ferret she can no >longer keep. The problem is that she is nippy. Karen placed this post yesterday. I live quite close to this lady, so my husband and I have taken Leia (as in Princess Leia, we call her Layla) to foster. She is more than nippy...she is a panic biter. She is quite sweet, but seems frightened and unsure of herself and her surroundings. I think she has never had a chance to assimilate into a family and is on the defensive all the time. She is fine as long as you do not try to pick her up when she is not ready for it...I think she was "grabbed" alot in the pet store where the lady got her, and as a result, she will really bite hard if startled. Layla should never have been sold to the home she went to...she was taken very good care of and loved alot, but the family has two children, girls about 8-10 years old and they became terrified of Leia, so she didn't get the snuggles most of our ferrets are used to. I would love some suggestions anyone has about socializing this little sweetie so she might someday go off to a new and loving home. I don't want to pass her off to anyone else right now...I think she needs to learn she can trust someone and I would like to be that someone. She gets along fine with my four furbabies; ages 3 months to 14 months, but lacks the "joi de vivre" that most ferrets exhibit, she hides under the sofa when out of the cage. I would love to hear from anyone experienced with this type situation. The one other thing I notice about her is that she looks almost like a kid with the mumps...where humans have glands on the side of their neck she seems a bit swollen...kinda like an Arnold Schwartzineiger neck, know what I mean? Could be she is just booffed out...she keeps her tail puffed up, maybe just nerves...again, suggestions welcomed. Thanks in advance and please wish us luck. Bear hugs and ferret kisses, Janet [Posted in FML issue 1972]