Editing Sable (section)

==Behaviour==
[[File:Japsable.jpg|thumb|left|A Japanese sable, as illustrated in ''The Illustrated Natural History'', 1865]]

Sables inhabit dense forests dominated by [[spruce]], [[pine]], [[larch]], [[Pinus sibirica|Siberian cedar]], and [[birch]] in both lowland and mountainous terrain. They defend home [[territory (animal)|territories]] that may be anything from {{convert|4|to|30|km2|mi2}} in size, depending on local terrain and food availability. However, when resources are scarce they may move considerable distances in search of food, with travel rates of {{convert|6|to|12|km|mi}} per day having been recorded.<ref name=Monakhov2011/>

Sables live in burrows near riverbanks and in the thickest parts of woods. These burrows are commonly made more secure by being dug among tree roots.<ref name="trapper"/> They are good climbers of cliffs and trees.<ref name=soviet>''The Fur Bearing Mammals of the Soviet Union'', produced by London's Hudson Bay, in association with v/o sojuzpushnina</ref> They are primarily [[crepuscular]], hunting during the hours of twilight, but become more active in the day during the mating season. Their dens are well hidden, and lined by grass and shed fur, but may be temporary, especially during the winter, when the animal travels more widely in search of prey.<ref name=Monakhov2011/>

Sables are [[omnivore]]s, and their diet varies seasonally. In the summer, they eat large numbers of [[mountain hare]] and other small mammals. In winter, when they are confined to their retreats by frost and snow, they feed on wild berries, [[rodent]]s, hares, and even small [[musk deer]].<ref name=Monakhov2011/> They also hunt [[Stoat|ermine]], small [[weasel]]s and birds. Sometimes, sables follow the tracks of [[wolf|wolves]] and [[bear]]s and feed on the remains of their kills.<ref name="trapper"/> They eat [[gastropod]]s such as slugs, which they rub on the ground in order to remove the [[mucus]]. Sables also occasionally eat fish, which they catch with their front paws.<ref name="soviet"/>

They hunt primarily by sound and scent, and they have an acute sense of [[hearing (sense)|hearing]]. Sables mark their territory with scent produced in [[scent gland|gland]]s on the abdomen.<ref name=Monakhov2011/> Predators of sable include a number of larger carnivores, such as wolves, foxes, [[wolverine]]s, [[tiger]]s, [[lynx]]es, [[eagle]]s and large [[owl]]s.<ref name=Monakhov2011/>