Hi all! I stumbled across some interesting facts about ferrets the other day and thought I would share them.... Did you know that ferrets are one of nature's most ruthlessly efficient predators? And do it very successfully. The ferret comes equipped with four long, sharp front teeth ideally adapted to grasping flesh. When European hunters used ferrets to flush game from tunnels, they bound the head and nose with twine, because once the animals got hold of a target, they would not release it. Animal behaviorists have theorized that the sound and smell of infant humans are particularly attractive to humans, which in the wild prey on suckling young. It is described as the "common ferret", cousin to the weasel and badger. Did you also know that their somewhat funky smell can be diminshed by weekly baths?. Ownership fo the ferret is opposed by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control, the Associate of State Public Health Veterinarians and the Humane Society of the United States. Their reason: There is no rabies vaccine proven effective for ferrets, which are highly susceptible to the disease. David Herbet, a specialist in captive wildlife for the HSUS states that "they are naturally nocturnal animals confined in diurnal households producing a neurotic pet in many cases" . A JAMA article warns against exposing children to the animals "for even brief periods". Dr. John Paisley, Co-author of the JAMA report says, "its odd to have an animal of any sort jump into a crib and start chewing on a baby. I don't know why they go biting people just kind of willy-nilly." Now, before ya'll think that I have completely lost my mind, I want to clarify something: This is how far we have come in educating not only the public, but the press. This were excepts from an article published in the Virginian-Pilot in 1988. By the way, it was estimated even back then, that there were a half million ferrets owned in the United States, and that 50,000 ferrets were estimated sold each year. So far, and yet so little progress... Happy Ferreting! Lisa [Posted in FML issue 2054]