Domestic ferrets are closely related to polecats and the two species sometimes interbreed.

Life span
Up to 5 years.

Statistics
Head and body length: male: 35-46cm, female: 30-40cm. Weight: 600-900g.

Physical description
Polecats have long cylindrical bodies, with short legs, short blunt faces and small, rounded ears. They have buff-coloured underfur, and dark brown guard hairs covering the body. Polecats have white markings on the muzzle and around the eyes and ears. Their tails are short and furry.

Distribution
They range across Europe. In Britain, polecats are restricted to Wales due to heavy persecution by humans in the past.

Habitat
Polecats prefer forest habitats.

Diet
They mainly hunt rabbits, small rodents and birds, but polecats also feed on amphibians, carrion and bird eggs. They stalk their prey, and after seizing it, they kill with a quick bite to the neck.

Behaviour
The size of polecat ranges vary according to habitat, season and food availability, but the mean area is 100 hectares. They build dens among rocks and tree roots, or sometimes in old rabbit burrows.

Polecats are solitary and are predominantly nocturnal. They produce a strong smell from their anal glands that is used to mark their territories.

Reproduction
They breed once a year, producing litters of 5-8 kits after a gestation period of 40-42 days. The kits are weaned after 4 weeks.

Conservation status
Polecats were once almost extinct in Britain. They are considered to be a pest of games and poultry, and have been persecuted for this. They were formerly killed for their fur. Despite diminishing populations, they are not considered to be endangered.