Hi Everyone, To Paige, well, I am so delighted to hear how you worked with your feral group. Feral animals can be so tough (I have dealt with feral cats). I think they are harder in some ways cause they have no idea exactly how to be wild animals (meaning their wild cousins have better survival instincts) yet they aren't socialized to humans at all. And such a constant state of fear for them. It goes to show how far love and patience can go with these guys. To Rochelle who wrote: >But hey, I admit it, I'm just too much of a wimp to really push my luck...) I had to laugh. You haven't seen me cringe when I feel a wet nose on my feet and I know Miss Natash aka Mazel Tov, is running around. hehe. Actually, most of the time I get nailed is from doing exactly what you did, act like you are dealing with any other ferret. Just that momentary lapse. But I also firmly believe that it is exactly this sort of thing that builds the most trust. Why? Because the ferret doesn't get hurt afterwards. So it reduces the level of anxiety. As for ferret whispering, Brandon you are on track. Paying attention to the animal, trying to communicate in a manner that isn't as confusing to them is the best thing any one can do. I have seen vets who can't do this, they have no empathy for the animals at all. And I have seen vets who had such empathy that they were excellent diagnosticians, and I mean pre tests. Just a knowing. I have a great gift of knowing when something is serious or when it doesn't mean a trip to the emergency clinic. Some of it is instinct, some is just plain experience. I think everyone can do it. It isn't easy for a lot of folks. I honestly believe it is how much you are willing to open yourself up emotionally to the animal. And the more you interact and observe them, the more you can tell about individuals. But the empathy needs to be there for animals in general. I treat my animals the same way emotionally as children. And by that I assume that they have a greater understanding than most give them credit for. I truly believe that we are all interconnected. But I also believe you have to respect the nature of the animal too. Do I spoil mine? Yes, no doubt. Do I coddle them? Yes, some. But I also make sure and treat them like ferrets a lot of the time too. Ferrets poop on the floor, they sometimes nip too hard in play, they get into absolutely everything and if I forget to put something up, then it is my fault for not accounting for ferret nature. Not theirs. I think they are very sturdy little critters. But we are guardians over them. Not owners, and they cannot, because of our past intervention, be turned lose and treated like wild animals either. We have purposely muted their instincts for our benefit. We now have to acknowledge that and take responsibility for it. And being responsible is not assuming they can handle things they can't, nor is it assuming they can't handle things they can. Margaret in Mid Mo [Posted in FML issue 2399]