The Polecat

Our research

The polecat (Mustela putorius) is of considerable conservation significance in Britain. This is particularly so because of its current recolonisation of many areas of lowland Britain from which it was trapped to extinction at the end of the 19th century.

The general lack of awareness and understanding of this recovery, and the paucity of information on the status, distribution and behaviour of polecats in the recently colonised areas, prompted the VWT to initiate a number of conservation-centred studies on the species. This included looking at the relationship between wild polecats and feral ferrets. For more information, please visit out Free downloads page.

For more information about the polecat please download our free leaflet here.

Polecat sightings

Currently we are not collecting polecat records or road casualties. However, if you find a polecat and wish to report it, please contact your Local Biological Records Centre (LBRC or LRC: find the contact details via the National Federation for Biological Recording web page ), the national Biological Record Centre (BRC, currently at CEH Monks Wood ) or your County Mammal Recorder (The Mammal Society).