Polecat is a common name for several mustelid species in the order Carnivora and subfamilies Ictonychinae [1] and Mustelinae. Polecats do not form a single taxonomic rank (i.e. clade ). The name is applied to several species with broad similarities to European polecats , such as having a dark mask-like marking across the face.

The European polecat (Mustela putorius), also known as the common polecat, black polecat and forest polecat, is a mustelid species native to Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. It is of a generally dark brown colour, with a pale underbelly and a dark mask across the face.

Much lighter fur distinguishes the masked, or steppe, polecat (M. eversmanni) of southeastern Europe and Asia. Principally terrestrial, the polecat hunts at night, feeding on small mammals and birds. It also eats snakes, lizards, frogs, fishes, and eggs. The polecat is more powerful than the marten but less active, and it rarely climbs trees.

The Polecat (Mustela putorius) is a member of the weasel family (Mustelids) and is also known as a ‘Fitch’ relating to its fur. It is related to stoats, otters, weasels and minks.

2024年5月27日 · The term polecat is an umbrella description which covers a diverse number of mustelids which generally share similar characteristics such as a mask, long, narrow bodies, short legs, rounded ears, and a fondness for meaty, proteinous fare.

Known for its bandit-like appearance, the polecat was once so persecuted it was on the brink of extinction in the UK. Thankfully, numbers are now increasing in rural Wales and parts of England.

The European polecat (Mustela putorius) is a species of mustelid native to western Eurasia and North Africa. It originated in Western Europe during the Middle Pleistocene, with its closest living relatives being the Steppe polecat, the Black-footed ferret and the European mink.