Polecat (Mustela putorius)
Polecats are solitary and predominantly nocturnal weasel-like animals, where the males are quite obviously larger and heavier than the females. They produce a strong musky scent from anal glands when threatened, and this is also used to mark their territories. These streamlined predators can lock their jaws together so tightly it can be near impossible to prise them apart. Ferrets are the domesticated descendants of the polecat.
What do they sound like?
Watch video clips from past programmes (1 clip)
In order to see this content you need to have an up-to-date version of Flash installed and Javascript turned on.
Polecat kittens Featured in the following TV programmes
-
Archived
Living Britain: SPRING
Episode 2/6 follows the arrival of Spring as it moves north.
About the Polecat
The European Polecat (Mustela putorius), also known as a fitch, foumart, or foulmart, is a member of the Mustelidae family, and is related to the stoats, otters, weasels and minks. Polecats are dark brown with a lighter bandit-like mask across the face, pale yellow underbody fur, a long tail and short legs. They are somewhat larger than weasels but smaller than otters, weighing between 0.7 kg for females to 1.7 kg for males.
This entry is from Wikipedia, the user-contributed encyclopedia. If you find the content in the 'About' section factually incorrect, defamatory or highly offensive you can edit this article at Wikipedia. For more information on our use of Wikipedia please read our FAQ.
The Polecat is
- Able to scent mark
- Carnivorous
- Helpless at birth
- Nocturnal
- Polygynandrous
- Polygynous
- Social
- Viviparous
Adaptation data provided by Animal Diversity Web
Where can I see them?
They can be found in the following habitats:
Conservation Status
The Polecat is Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
- EX - Extinct
- EW
- CR - Threatened
- EN - Threatened
- VU - Threatened
- NT
- LC - Least concern
Population trend: Decreasing
Year assessed: 2008
Elsewhere on the web
- European polecat - Mustela putorius (arkive.org)
- Mustela putorius (animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu)
- Springwatch: Meet the animals (bbc.co.uk)
- BBC Wales: polecat identification (bbc.co.uk)
- IUCN Red List information (iucnredlist.org)
- Polecat fact file (wildaboutbritain.co.uk)
- European Polecat (wikipedia.org)
Site links
BBC links
© MMIX
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.