
©Elliot Smith
Polecat
Scientific name: Mustela putorius
Known for its bandit-like appearance, the polecat was once so persecuted it was on brink of extinction in the UK. Thankfully, numbers are now increasing in rural Wales and parts of England.
Species information
Category
Statistics
Length: 32-45cmTail: 12-19cm
Weight: 0.5-1.9kg
Average lifespan: 5 years
Conservation status
Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.