Wood shavings are often used as bedding, not just litter. Unlike with pellets, shavings get tracked around, are drying to the coat, get into the water and food dishes, and food that falls out of the bowl disappears under the shavings. Also, even pine pellets generally aren't a problem, since they are made from compressed saw dust. The volatile oils are pretty much gone by the time the pellets are made. Linda Iroff Raisin Retreat Ferret Shelter Oberlin, OH http://www.oberlin.edu/~liroff/ncfs.html [Posted in FML issue 2529]