European polecat
The European Polecat (Mustela putorius), also called a 'fitch', is a mainly nocturnal, solitary creature. Their diet consists mainly on rodents and rabbits. In England, domestic ferrets have abandonned their bosses wich has led to ferret-polecat hybrids... They have also been introduced in New Zealand. Males and females differ a lot. Males can be two times the weight of a female and be a third or more longer. Polecats have a pair of anal glands that emit a strong-smelling secretion, like all mustelids. When they are excited or threatened they release some of the contents of these glands. Image by Malene Thyssen, licensed under GFDL.
two comments:
i like polecats!
elly (Email) - 21 05 08 - 16:42
The domesticated ferret is believed to come from the European Polecat and they sure look identical. The article mentions this, I know, but they are so similar, I think only DNA can really tell them apart. The males are real rough on the females during mating and the females will not go out of heat until mated.
Marilyn (Email) - 23 05 08 - 08:11
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