We had an interesting occurrence today..My son, who buys mice for his ball python, brought them over to my house while he stopped by..it was hot so he brought the box of live mice into the house while the ferrets were enjoying some run of the house time. One of my recent rescues, Daphne, immediately came to point at the scent of the box of mice and we decided to let one loose in the bathroom to see if she would go after it.. I had read on the list about the live animal for food approach. My fears were that Daphne would play with the mouse (as the cats sometimes do with the field mice they bring in the house for "show and tell") but that was not the case with Daphne. She immediately struck the mouse on the neck and ate it, with great satisfaction, right down to the squeak. These 3 ferrets had been kept in a 10'x10' chicken wire cage in a back yard, and I suspect they had live food before..that of the wondering thru the cage kind. My raised in the house kids showed no interest at all in the mice, in fact Bismarck, he of the royal name and large body, ran and hid behind the toilet! Angel Baby ignored it entirely but the other 2 rescue's responded as Daphne did. Shy Violet killed and ate also, while Daisy just killed her mouse and stashed it in the food dish..Daphne immediately moved the dead mouse to the food dish on her level. Daisy went for it and a fight insued about the mouse, with Daphne backing down (thats not the usual happening but she 'knew' it wasn't her kill is my guess) I'm really interested in hearing from others who provide live food for their kids. I had wondered why Daphne, Shy Violet and Daisy's coats were so soft and silky and remember someone posted about that being what happens when ferrets are allowed to have live kills. My human kid and grand daughter thought I'd be grossed out..(I'm a vegetarian and general pacifist) but ferrets aren't people and their response showed me that this is the way they would live if they could... and perhaps have done so in the past in their old home. I also know that I will have less trouble with my fall influx of field mice this year with these girls around the house.. elle in (today) sunny oregon [Posted in FML issue 2644]