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Photo: G. Bradley
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UK
Safari Tip:
Discover more about Polecats and other land mammals with the illustrated
identification chart in the Nature Shop - click
here
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Latin name: Mustela putorius
Size: Approximately 50cms from nose to end of tail.
Distribution: Found mainly in Wales and border counties.
Months seen: All year round
Food: Rabbits, small mammals, frogs and birds.
Life span: Approximately 5 years.
Habitat: Can be found in meadows, moorland, woodlands, open mountains and coastal areas. Sometimes found close to farm buildings.
Special features: The polecat is a member of the weasel family. It lives in burrows which they can dig themselves, but often inhabit burrows vacated by other animals.
Because of its taste for poultry it became the enemy of farmers and gamekeepers. For this reason it was almost hunted to extinction, and became confined to a few areas in mid Wales.
Another common name for the polecat is "foul marten" because it emits an acrid smelling scent as a territory marker and also as a defense mechanism from glands under its tail.
Mating occurs in April, and the young are born in June. There is usually only one litter a year and it can contain up to 12 babies, known as kittens. Only around half the litter survives to weaning.
 The young are born with whitish fur. This is replaced by darker fur within three weeks. Within six weeks they are the same colour as the adults.
UK Safari Mammal Section
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