During what phase do animals often exhibit territorial behaviors?

Territorial behaviors in animals are most commonly observed during the mating season. During this time, animals actively establish and defend territories to ensure access to resources such as food, shelter, and potential mates. The defense of these territories can help increase mating opportunities and enhance reproductive success.

In contrast, other phases may involve social interactions or stress responses, but they do not specifically trigger the same level of territorial behavior. For example, during the play phase, animals are more focused on interaction and play with peers rather than marking or defending territory. Socialization phase focuses on the establishment of social bonds rather than territory, and during the stress phase, behaviors are typically reactions to environmental pressures rather than proactive territorial defense. Thus, mating season is the phase that most significantly correlates with the expression of territorial behaviors in animals.