Just quickly on treats: If the ferret doesn't want treats, that's great. Seriously, almost any treat on the market is loaded with sugars and fruits that are no good for ferrets. I have one ferret with insulinoma and it's no fun. Keep the sugar away from the critters and you'll be better off in the long run. If *you* must give treats, use Ferretone or small pieces of meat instead of commercial treats or (heaven forbid) raisins. None of these things are dangerous right away but most people believe they are contributing factors for insulinoma.

Back to a funner subject. First, run don't walk to http://www.newrainbowbridge.com/index.htm and order one of their ferret tubes. It's just flexible dryer vent, but it's my kids' favorite toy. This web site has the cheapest price on them I've seen online and I can vouch for their toughness. Next dedicate a great big bath towel to get ripped up by Escher's toenails. Lastly, save a few of your plastic grocery bags.

One thing that I (and many others I'm sure) have found is that the more you pay for a ferret toy, the less likely the ferret is to like it. The best toys are truly the cheapest and easiest.

With the tubes, you can tie them in knots, drag them around, put them up & over you or a piece of furniture, anything. Mine love to run through them especially if I keep moving them around. If you someday get another fert they love to go teeth to teeth in the tubes with one advancing and one retreating, mouths open and tails beating against the sides all the way. Lots of fun.

With the beach/bath towel, just drop it over the little guy and watch him go crazy. Some like to burrow under, some like you to drag it around the floor while they ride. Others love it if you drape it over them and then whip it back off (just be careful or you could send your little furry flying!). Many a happy hour can be spent this way.

The grocery bags are at the top of the ferret toy list. They love the texture and especially the sound they make. Mine like to climb in the sacks while wrestling. Sometimes I'll pick the bag up by the handles and drag them around the floor. With Wolverine, I even skid him across the living room floor in the bag. He loves it and almost always war dances back for more.

Also, boxes of any kind are great toys. Whenever I get a package in, the kids are all over the box. Nevermind all the food, toys etc. that might be in the box, it's the empty cardboard box they want.

Last thing I'd like to mention is what I call "bed games". Mine just love to get on the bed with me and play. Mine love to jump around on the bed, climb under blankets, scale tall piles of pillows etc.

OK, now onto ferret sounds. The more he gets used to you, the more noises he's likely to make. One sound is a breathy almost hissing sound like "he he he" etc. Then there is the dook which is (for lack of a better word) chuckling sound usually accompanied by a war dance. Don't sweat the noises they all mean thye're having fun, except if he's in trouble a ferret scream is very self-explanatory and you *won't* wonder what noise it is.

So now you're ready to play with your little guy. I bet you wear out before he does!