Thanks so much for all your answers to our last questions. I'd never thought of the scent-gland smell leading them back home or to the litterbox. One more good reason NOT to have these glands removed. But now we're really baffled. Two *more* questions: Are ferts pack animals by nature? Will ferts "in the wild" band together (as they do -- with a few exceptions -- in the home) or are they solitary creatures (more like mountain lions with social time limited to mating and the raising of kits)? What has been observed with black-footed ferretts? And are ferts denning animals? I know some otherwise healthy ferts (one of ours included) will poop where they sleep and even sometimes where they eat. I didn't think a typical denning animal would do this.(ours has been doing it since we got her four years ago. she's in perfect health & seems to be just too lazy to walk the extra two feet to the box). Thanks so much for your help. Rainey & Stormin, two humans owned by two ferts who've just gotta be what ferts gotta be ... and that's whatever they want it to be. Sigh. [Posted in FML issue 1698]