>My own ferret Felix, who is by far the smartest, has a tendency to start >licking us and then begins biting. I had heard often that this was a method of grooming, but I have to admit I had my doubts. We've had lots of ferrets in our shelter who did the "lick, lick, CHOMP." Since Freddie was dropped off though, I have to admit that I'm fairly well convinced that it is a ferret grooming technique. Freddie will climb up on my shoulder as start with my beard, first licking it to get the hair to lie all in the same direction, then she goes all the way down to the base of the hair and begin gently nipping and pulling as if she were trying to remove parasites (no comments please), mats, and loose undercoat. She'll groom my beard then work around to the back of my neck with the same actions. Finally, she'll clean my ears, ending with nibbling the edges and the earlobes. Once satisfied that I've been properly groomed, she'll curl up on my shoulder, flip her rear end over her head and go to sleep. I think the problem with the ones who nip or even bite too hard is that they don't recognize where the hairs stop and the skin begins. Not finding a normal undercoat there, they assume that the skin is really a mat that needs to come out. Remember that the way the ferret's head is shaped and their eyes set, they cannot see anything at the tip of their noses. They can't see what they are doing, only feel. To them they probably feel that it is a mat and do their best to properly groom you. Fortunately for me, Freddie has learned the difference and is very cautious; fortunate because I get groomed at least once a day. Dick B. 4 Li'l Paws Ferret Shelter [Posted in FML issue 2614]