Polecat
The Polecat is a member of the Mustelid group of mammals which also includes the Weasel, Stoat, Otter and Pine Marten. It has blackish guard hairs and yellow underfur on the body giving a “black and tan” appearance, a “bandit” face with a pale muzzle, ear tips and eyebrows and a broad dark band around the eyes, darker legs and belly and a short fluffy tail.
The Polecat is found throughout Wales, the Midlands and parts of central southern England and is spreading steadily from these areas. There are isolated populations in Cumbria and Caithness which probably result from unofficial releases. At one time the Polecat was widespread throughout the UK but it was nearly exterminated by 1915. They have never occurred in Ireland or on the outer islands of Scotland.
Although it occurs in a wide range of habitats, the Polecat prefers lowland areas. When it was confined to Wales, valleys and farms were favoured, but as it has spread out into England, farmland with hedgerows and small woods are preferred.
Polecat dens are commonly in rabbit burrows, especially in summer, but they frequently move into farmyards in winter when they may den in hay bales, under sheds and in rubbish tips.
This change of habitat reflects their changing diet through the year. In summer, Rabbits are a major food and the Polecat is slender enough to hunt them within their burrows. In winter, Brown Rats become a favoured food and sites like farmyards and rubbish tips that have good populations become more usual habitats. The Polecat does however kill a wide range of prey. Frogs may be important in spring, when they have gathered to spawn, and birds may also be taken.
Polecats have lived up to 14 years in captivity but in the wild most probably die before they are 5 years old.
In addition to its protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Polecat was added to the list of UK BAP (Biodiveristy Action Plan) mammals in 2007and protected as a species of principal importance for the conservation of biological diversity in England.
Until the 19th Century, the Polecat was found throughout much of mainland UK and the Isle of Wight. Habitat fragmentation, persecution by gamekeepers and being killed for their fur drastically reduced this distribution. The Polecat population was reduced to about 5,000 but is now more than 46,000.
One worrying problem is the extent to which they might suffer from secondary poisoning from rodenticides. Brown Rats are commonly killed by anticoagulant poisons when they infest homes and farms but there is an evident risk to Polecats from eating sick, dying rats. It is not known how serious this might be at the level of the Polecat population. As they spread further into England, the increasing density of roads and road traffic is also a threat and seems to be slowing the Polecat’s spread into both northern and south east England.
Date: 16th September 2011
Location: British Wildlife Centre, Surrey
The Polecat is found throughout Wales, the Midlands and parts of central southern England and is spreading steadily from these areas. There are isolated populations in Cumbria and Caithness which probably result from unofficial releases. At one time the Polecat was widespread throughout the UK but it was nearly exterminated by 1915. They have never occurred in Ireland or on the outer islands of Scotland.
Although it occurs in a wide range of habitats, the Polecat prefers lowland areas. When it was confined to Wales, valleys and farms were favoured, but as it has spread out into England, farmland with hedgerows and small woods are preferred.
Polecat dens are commonly in rabbit burrows, especially in summer, but they frequently move into farmyards in winter when they may den in hay bales, under sheds and in rubbish tips.
This change of habitat reflects their changing diet through the year. In summer, Rabbits are a major food and the Polecat is slender enough to hunt them within their burrows. In winter, Brown Rats become a favoured food and sites like farmyards and rubbish tips that have good populations become more usual habitats. The Polecat does however kill a wide range of prey. Frogs may be important in spring, when they have gathered to spawn, and birds may also be taken.
Polecats have lived up to 14 years in captivity but in the wild most probably die before they are 5 years old.
In addition to its protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Polecat was added to the list of UK BAP (Biodiveristy Action Plan) mammals in 2007and protected as a species of principal importance for the conservation of biological diversity in England.
Until the 19th Century, the Polecat was found throughout much of mainland UK and the Isle of Wight. Habitat fragmentation, persecution by gamekeepers and being killed for their fur drastically reduced this distribution. The Polecat population was reduced to about 5,000 but is now more than 46,000.
One worrying problem is the extent to which they might suffer from secondary poisoning from rodenticides. Brown Rats are commonly killed by anticoagulant poisons when they infest homes and farms but there is an evident risk to Polecats from eating sick, dying rats. It is not known how serious this might be at the level of the Polecat population. As they spread further into England, the increasing density of roads and road traffic is also a threat and seems to be slowing the Polecat’s spread into both northern and south east England.
Date: 16th September 2011
Location: British Wildlife Centre, Surrey
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