Editing Ferret (section)

===Behavior===
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Ferrets spend 14–18 hours a day asleep and are most active around the hours of dawn and dusk, meaning they are [[crepuscular]].<ref name="Anon">{{cite web|url=http://www.pethealthinfo.org.uk/ferrets/|title=Ferrets|publisher=Pet Health Information|access-date=29 January 2010|archive-date=3 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203230129/http://pethealthinfo.org.uk/ferrets/|url-status=dead}}</ref> If they are caged, they should be taken out daily to exercise and satisfy their curiosity; they need at least an hour and a place to play.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ferretbiting.com/ferret-as-pet-care-guide/|title=Ferret as pet care guide|access-date=22 January 2021|archive-date=2 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102171147/http://ferretbiting.com/ferret-as-pet-care-guide/|url-status=live}}</ref> Unlike their polecat ancestors, which are solitary animals, most ferrets will live happily in social groups. They are territorial, like to burrow, and prefer to sleep in an enclosed area.<ref name="Brown">{{cite web|url=http://www.weaselwords.com/page/ferret_art036.php|title=Inherited behavior traits of the domesticated ferret|last=Brown|first=Susan, A|date=17 January 2010|website=Weaselwords.com|access-date=29 January 2010|archive-date=4 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004091445/http://www.weaselwords.com/page/ferret_art036.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

Like many other mustelids, ferrets have scent glands near their anus, the secretions from which are used in [[Spraying (animal behavior)|scent marking]]. Ferrets can recognize individuals from these anal gland secretions, as well as the sex of unfamiliar individuals.<ref name="Clapperton1988">{{cite journal |vauthors=Clapperton BK, Minot EO, Crump DR |title=An Olfactory Recognition System in the Ferret Mustela furo L. (Carnivora: Mustelidae) |journal=Animal Behaviour |volume=36 |issue=2 |pages=541–553 |date=April 1988 |doi=10.1016/S0003-3472(88)80025-3|s2cid=53197938 }}</ref> Ferrets may also use urine marking for [[mating]] and individual recognition.<ref name="Zhang2005">{{cite journal |vauthors=Zhang JX, Soini HA, Bruce KE, Wiesler D, Woodley SK, Baum MJ, Novotny MV |title=Putative Chemosignals of the Ferret (Mustela furo) Associated with Individual and Gender Recognition |journal=Chemical Senses |volume=30 |pages=727–737 |date=November 2005 |doi=10.1093/chemse/bji065 |id=Online |pmid=16221798 |issue=9|doi-access=free }}</ref>

As with [[skunks]], ferrets can release their [[anal gland]] secretions when startled or scared, but the smell is much less potent and dissipates rapidly. Most pet ferrets in the US are sold descented (with the anal glands removed).<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mitchell|first1=Mark A.|last2=Tully|first2=Thomas N.|title=Manual of exotic pet practice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JMTUKwzPEvwC&pg=PA372|year=2009|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=978-1-4160-0119-5|page=372|access-date=2016-07-29|archive-date=2014-01-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112053059/http://books.google.com/books?id=JMTUKwzPEvwC&pg=PA372|url-status=live}}</ref> In many other parts of the world, including the UK and other European countries, de-scenting is considered an [[Overview of discretionary invasive procedures on animals|unnecessary mutilation]].

If excited, they may perform a behavior called the "[[weasel war dance]]", characterized by frenzied sideways hops, leaps and bumping into nearby objects. Despite its common name, it is not aggressive but is a joyful invitation to play. It is often accompanied by a unique soft clucking noise, commonly referred to as "dooking".<ref>{{cite book |author1=Schilling, Kim |author2=Brown, Susan |title=Ferrets For Dummies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B81UEcbj28gC&pg=PT302 |year=2011 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-118-05154-2 |page=302 |access-date=2016-07-29 |archive-date=2013-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204025518/http://books.google.com/books?id=B81UEcbj28gC&pg=PT302 |url-status=live }}</ref> When scared, ferrets will hiss; when upset, they squeak softly.<ref>{{cite book|last=Tynes|first=Valerie V.|title=Behavior of Exotic Pets |year=2010 |publisher=Blackwell Pub.|location=Chichester, West Sussex|isbn=978-0-8138-0078-3 |page=234}}</ref>