Polecat - Wikipedia In the United States, the term polecat is sometimes applied to the black-footed ferret, a native member of the Mustelinae In Southern United States dialect, the term polecat is sometimes used as a colloquial nickname for the skunk, which is part of the family Mephitidae
Polecat | Description, Size, Facts | Britannica 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
Polecat Animal Facts - Mustela putorius - A-Z Animals 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
Polecat Weasel - Facts, Diet Habitat Information Polecat 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 Polecats were once widespread and common throughout mainland Britain
Polecat - The Wildlife Trusts Perceived as bloodthirsty animals, polecats were declared vermin during the reign of Elizabeth I and the name 'polecat' was used to refer to vagabonds Despite their reputation as pests of poultry, polecats eat small rodents, frogs, birds and snakes during their nocturnal hunting forays
FAQ: What’s a Polecat? – AnimalPages Are polecats actually cats? Nope! Despite the name, polecats are not felines The name “polecat” comes from the French poule chat (chicken cat), likely because polecats were known to raid henhouses
Polecat facts - Protect the Wild A solitary animal, the polecat occupies a variety of habitats, from farmland to woodlands to coastal sand dunes, and it typically dens in rabbit burrows, log piles, hay stacks and farm buildings
European polecat - Wikipedia The European polecat (Mustela putorius), also known as the common polecat, black polecat and forest polecat, is a mustelid species occurring in Europe and the Rif mountains
POLECAT Definition Meaning - Merriam-Webster The meaning of POLECAT is any of several carnivorous mammals (as of the genera Mustela or Vormela) of the weasel family; especially : a brown to black European mammal (M putorius) from which the domesticated ferret is derived