Polecats are dark brown in colour with a pale underbelly and a brown 'bandit mask' on their face. These mustelids prefer to be alone and usually only come out at night.
Polecat facts
Scientific name: Mustela putorius
Family: Mustelids
Diet: Wild rabbits
Size: 32-45cm
Weight: 0.5-1.9kg
Lifespan: Five years
About polecats
A member of the same family as stoats and badgers, polecats are the same size as ferrets – their domesticated cousin. They're shorter and more compact than other mustelids, with a powerful but less agile build.
Polecats haven't always been well-loved throughout history. In the Elizabethan era, the small mammal was hunted by gamekeepers, and its name became synonymous with vagabonds and promiscuity. Today, the polecat is still underrepresented in popular culture.
Once persecuted to near-extinction, polecat populations are recovering, with numbers in rural parts of England and Wales.
Polecats and our canals
Polecats mainly feed on rabbits and other prey available along waterways, including frogs and toads. Often found in woodlands and hedgerows, our canal network offers a huge variety of well-protected habitats and safe passage through the landscape for this elusive creature.
With white stripes on dark fur, the polecat has a distinct bandit-like face and a dark band around the eyes. They have a two-tone coat with dark brown hairs and yellow underfur. Polecats have compact builds with a short, fluffy tail and round ears. Males are slightly bigger than females.
What do polecats eat?
Polecats largely eat rabbits, following them into their burrows to hunt. In winter, they eat rats, while in spring, they might take to birds and frogs. Polecats stalk their prey slowly before seizing it and killing it with a quick bite to the neck. They sometimes cripple their prey by piercing the brain and keeping the still-living victim in their burrow for later.
How do polecats breed?
Polecats have one litter each year, giving birth to between five and ten young in May or June. These blind and hairless juveniles stay with their mother for around two to three months, maturing by the autumn. The father doesn't play any direct part.
Occasionally, polecats will mate with escaped domesticated ferrets. The hybrid young have lighter fur on the back and more white fur on the face.
Where do polecats live?
Largely found in Wales, polecats prefer farm and woodland habitats in lowland areas. Populations are spreading throughout the midlands and into central southern England.
Although polecats can make their own dens, they tend to use existing sites such as rabbit burrows and log piles – particularly in summer. In winter, they live in hay bales, under sheds and in rubbish tips. Polecat territories vary in size depending on the habitat and food sources, but they're less territorial than other mustelids.
Polecats are notoriously hard to track, as they do not leave many distinctive signs and often get confused with minks or ferrets. These elusive creatures are mostly spotted running across the road at night, but if you're lucky, you might see one along our canals.
Threats to polecats
Polecats are related to otters and were trapped to near extermination by gamekeepers and fur trappers in the early 1900s. As a result, they are now listed on Schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, meaning they're protected from illegal trapping and persecution. As a result, polecat populations are recovering.
Now, the main threat to polecat survival is vehicle collisions on roads. Our canals provide important highways for polecats and other wildlife to build their habitats, hunt for food, and travel.
