Polecat Information
MUSTELA PUTORIUS
FAMILY: MUSTELIDAE
STATUS: APPEARS ON THE LONG UK BIODIVERSITY LIST
Distribution
In 1800 polecats were common and widespread in most of the UK. By the end of the 19th century numbers had dramatically dropped as the value of their pelts increased along with trapping by gamekeepers. Until 1920 they could only be found in a tiny area of Wales. Polecat distribution mapping began in the late 1950s, and their numbers have been increasing since this time, with a "front" expanding the polecat's range east from Wales. Today the polecat is well established in Wales and has re-established in the West Midlands. Populations derived from reintroduced animals can be found in Cumbria, the East Midlands, the west Highlands and central southern England.
Biology
Polecats are medium-sized, long-bodied carnivores, with distinctive black and white facial markings. They are predominantly nocturnal, and they tend to hunt on the ground, avoiding swimming or climbing. Polecats will prey on a wide range of species from hedgehogs to reptiles; rabbits, however, dominate their diet. Their preferred habitats are woodland edges, farm buildings and field boundaries, and their territories have a close correlation to local rabbit warrens.
Threats
Polecat populations were historically threatened by gamekeeping and fur trapping. The increase in game estates in the 19th century led to more persecution of small mustelids, as they were perceived to be competitors for game. These pressures have declined in recent years.
However as populations of polecats spread east from Wales, they will again experience problems with agricultural areas and game estates: they are often caught in traps designed for other animals, or killed by poisons intended for rodents. There is little legislation protecting them from indiscriminate killing, and even low mortality can have devastating effects in areas with low population densities. The movement into more populated areas will also lead to increased road deaths. At the moment carcasses of polecats killed on the road are the only contact many researchers and conservationists have with this species. As with most species dependant on the countryside, habitat degradation will also have a negative impact on polecat populations.
Conservation Solutions
Recommendations will soon be published which identify key conservation issues and actions to ensure a sustainable future for the polecat. These include polecat exclusion devices fitted to tunnel traps as polecats move into areas with heavier predator control. Unnecessary persecution of polecats could also be minimised by increased legal protection such as licensing procedures, which are currently lacking. Recommendations will also include an improved pesticides policy, a change in agricultural policy and guidelines for management of polecat habitats and prey species.
Research: More research is needed into population and distribution throughout the polecat's known range and the areas it may be moving into. The Vincent Wildlife Trust initiated a new polecat distribution survey based mainly on road deaths. The survey led to increased research into the relationship between polecats and feral ferrets as well as rabbit/polecat distribution.
Survival prospects in Europe for the 21st century
Polecats have a sustainable future in the UK in the 21st century as long as we maintain an adequate level of prey population and as long as nothing gets worse as regards pesticide use, persecution and road deaths. Polecats should be able to reclaim 90-95 per cent of their former range if recommendations for their conservation are implemented. However, they will never be able to repopulate areas with high road density and intensive agriculture.