Hello, ferret people! I just got back from going home for spring break, and I've got a problem I hope someone can help me with. My oldest ferret, Zorro, 2 yrs. 9 mos. sable male, has suddenly become a biter...and I can't figure out why! Up until this past week, Zorro was the ideal ferret...sweet and loveable and affectionate. He -never- bit before, and further, he was the ferret who required the least anti-nip training of my three. Zorro has always loved burrowing under my shirt whenever I've worn something loose and cuddling up for a nap. Often when he's gone under my clothing he'll lick my tummy before curling up (lucky for me I'm not ticklish). Sometimes he just likes to crawl under my shirt and come out of the neck opening or one of the sleeves. Well, the first day I was home and took the ferrets out to play, Zorro climbed up in my lap and went under my shirt. He licked my tummy a little bit, then stuck his head out of the neck opening. He licked my collarbone a few times, then suddenly clamped down -hard- with his teeth...and he didn't want to let go! Later that evening he was standing on my shoulders and started licking the back of my neck, and suddenly bit down again. This behavior recurred several times during my trip home. I'm so upset...I'm almost afraid to try to cuddle with Zorro now. I wasn't wearing any perfume, nor have I changed soap/shampoo/deodorant, so I don't think he was upset or confused by any strange/objectionable scent. Zorro has always been on the thin side, but his coat is thick, shiny and soft, his eyes are clear and bright, and his energy level is good, so this incident doesn't seem to be health-related. All the bites occurred on my neck/collarbone/upper chest area...he would lick my tummy and my face without any biting. There have been two major changes in Zorro's life lately, though. At the end of August, I left Georgia to go to graduate school at Notre Dame, and since I'm not allowed to have pets in the university housing, I left my ferrets with my mother. Since first year grad students are discouraged from holding outside jobs, my daughter Bronwyn also stayed behind with my mother, so the ferrets did have a familiar face go with them when they moved (of course, Zorro has always been "my" ferret... he loves Bronwyn, but he's always seemed more attached to me). Then at Christmas, we acquired a new kit, Loki, who is now five months old, as a Christmas gift. I might add also that Loki is very rambunctious and loves to wrestle with Zorro and Claudia, our other ferret. I'm wondering if perhaps Zorro's sudden biting could be because a) he resents my leaving him behind and/or b) Loki's normal kit behavior is inciting Zorro to behave more aggressively. Does anyone have any ideas? And most importantly, what can I do??? I don't want to be afraid to cuddle with Zorro...he's always been a wonderful ferret until now. Thanks for any help anyone can offer. Lisa Mom of Zorro, Claudia, and Loki @}-}-- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --{-{@ "There in the midst of it so alive and so alone Words support like bone." --Peter Gabriel "Mercy Street" [Posted in FML issue 2249]