Q: "What is all this butt sniffing about?"
 
A: Yoda said you have to use the source to find out if someone is an
a-hole.
 
Watch carefully, and you will notice ferrets sniff three different areas,
the neck, the ears, and the butt.  Each font of odor is probably unique
enough to use scent to identify the individual, but I suspect ferrets
seem more interested in the butt because that location is the source of
the ferret's calling cards.  Ferrets simply sniff the butt to learn the
identity of the other ferret.
 
Ferrets, like ALL carnivores, have two small anal sacs (right next to
the pooper shooter) that squeeze out a little scent each time the ferret
does a do-do.  This is not intentional; the glands are compressed each
time the anal sphincter is mechanically dilated during defecation, so
you don't have the same effect as when the ferret poofs.  Ferrets are
extremely territorial, and these scent-covered feces are used to mark the
boundaries of an individual's home turf.  Now you know why ferrets want
to poop in so many different corners; corners define the boundaries of a
rectangular room.
 
Additionally, scent is smeared on the ground after the do-do is done.
Some people suggest butt-dragging is designed to clean away doody, but
it is actually meant to wipe anal sac scent on the ground near the
latrine to intensify territorial marking.  If you want to believe ferrets
do it to keep clean, that's fine, but what they are really doing is
putting up a signpost telling all alien ferrets of the same sex to keep
out.  You may have noticed a general rule is for male ferrets to fight
males, and female ferrets to fight females (it is sometimes confusing
with neutered animals).  This is because ferrets are same-sex territorial
exclusionists.  They allow the opposite sex into their territory without
much fuss (sex IS everything), but tear into those of the same sex in an
effort to drive them away.  If you have a couple of males (or females)
and want to add a third, but are afraid of fighting, add a female (or
male), and the fighting should be short-lived.
 
These are core instincts that cannot be changed, so even if a ferret is
descented, other ferrets will still try to use the anal sac source for
identification, and the descented ferret will still try to use their
glands for territorial marking, visiting all your corners and dragging
their butt afterwards.  Ferrets will also sniff the booty in order to
discover the sexual state of an individual (if they are in rut or heat),
but with neutered animals, that isn't such a driving force.  The "bottom"
line is that ferrets will be extremely "nosy" about a new ferret's butt,
which I guess is part of their charm.
 
Bob C
[Posted in FML issue 4141]