Polecats are carnivorous mammals belonging to the Mustelidae family, a group that includes weasels, badgers, and otters. These animals are distributed across various regions, including parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. They are recognized for their predatory behaviors and their ability to adapt to a range of habitats, from forests and grasslands to wetlands and agricultural areas. Polecats are primarily nocturnal, relying on their keen senses to locate prey during the night.
Primary Food Sources
Polecats primarily eat small mammals. Wild rabbits are a significant food source, especially in regions like the English Midlands, where they can comprise up to 85% of a polecat’s diet. Polecats hunt rabbits within their burrows, leveraging their slender bodies to pursue prey underground. Their reliance on rabbits is due to their abundance and the polecat’s specialized hunting technique.
Rodents also form a substantial portion of their diet due to widespread availability. Species such as mice, voles, and rats are common targets, with polecats often hunting them in their nests and burrows. In some areas, common voles are the most frequent rodent prey. Their consistent presence and easy capture make them mainstays, providing a reliable energy source.
Varied and Seasonal Prey
Beyond small mammals, polecats are opportunistic, incorporating diverse food items, especially when primary prey is scarce or seasonal. Birds, including ground-nesting species and their eggs, are regularly consumed, with polecats capable of climbing trees to access nests. In central Europe, birds like quail, grey partridges, and pigeons become more prominent in their diet during winter.
Amphibians like frogs and toads become important dietary components in spring and winter, especially during breeding seasons when they are concentrated. Polecats may even paralyze these amphibians with a bite to the skull and store them for later consumption. Reptiles, including lizards and various snakes like grass snakes and asp vipers, also supplement their diet.
Insects like larger beetles, earwigs, and isopods are eaten, though they represent a smaller portion of the diet. Less common, polecats consume fish like eels and trout, particularly in wetland habitats when other food sources are scarce. Polecats also scavenge on carrion, consuming dead animals they encounter, which can be a significant food source during scarcity or in winter.