Yes, I'm still confused about using the term "crepuscular" when describing polecats and, therefore, ferrets. Bob, from your post, should I better understand that "crepuscular" means "able to be active any time during a 24 hour period as the opportunities for survival present themselves?" This would make more sense of what I have read so far. The dictionary definition leads one to understand that crepuscular animals are either mainly or exclusively active during dawn and dusk. I think from you and Sukie, this is not accurate. Please let me be right this once. I have often wondered if, therefore, many of us have similarly misunderstood the term and this has led to thinking that ferrets only need (for instance) to be let out of a cage once or twice per day (dawn and dusk). I know from my own experience, and I bet others do too, that ferrets need to be much more active than this! I have further concerns that a current trend to provide absolute darkness for a period of time per 24 hours to prevent adrenal disease has been seen by some as a need to occlude light for as long as possible. I think this could be very dangerous. Bob, do you have any thoughts on these ponderings? :-) Shirley [Posted in FML 5550]