In the ferret room, I used to have a 3' tall wastebasket that was nominally ferret-proof. I used it to toss dirty litter into, soiled newspaper, etc. However, one weekend, Noodle learned how to jump up into it, so out of the room it went. Well, whenever I brought it back into the room to use in cleaning the litterbox, bounce, into the trashcan went Noodle. Why? I mean, it's only got ferret poop in it. Who knows? Anyway, I made it easier by putting the trashcan between the futon and the cage that I was cleaning. Jumping from the futon to the rim of the can - noooo problem. Swish! Nothin' but net. One day, I looked over when I heard the characteristic *thump* of ferret butt on plastic, and automatically I reached up to remove Noodle from the trash. But lo, and behold! This time it was EASEL the three-legged weasel (missing right hind leg)! I set her back on the futon and cleverly watched as she coiled herself up and SPROINGED into the trash can again. Wow! The gimp weasel can jump! Since she learned how to jump (one can only imagine she learned it from watching Noodle), she's impossible to keep down. She jumps from the futon to the top of the cat carrier, she jumps from one box to another box, she jumps into the trash can. It's pretty neat, actually, because she can jump pretty far - farther than some ferrets - with just one leg and a stump to propel her. She's also the best climber I have (go figure). Anyway, Tracy, bill & diane - thought you in particular would like to hear about Easel's newfound talent. :) Melissa and the tiggers ___ Melissa Litwicki __ [log in to unmask] ___ By the whole newsgroup devoted tennis showing it after scarfing fork and laughters [Posted in FML issue 1997]