Polecats are small, carnivorous mammals belonging to the Mustelidae family. They are characterized by their elongated bodies, short legs, and dark fur, often with a distinctive pale face mask.
Geographical Range
The distribution of polecats spans across several continents. The European Polecat (Mustela putorius) is native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, with its range extending across countries like Germany, France, and Ukraine. This species is widespread.
The Steppe Polecat (Mustela eversmanii) has a more eastern distribution. Its range covers Central and Eastern Europe, stretching through southern Russia, Central Asia, Mongolia, and into northern and western China.
The Marbled Polecat (Vormela peregusna) is found in parts of southeastern Europe, across the Middle East, and into Central Asia, reaching as far east as China. Its distribution includes countries like Bulgaria, Georgia, and Iran. It is considered rare.
Preferred Habitats
Polecats exhibit adaptability, thriving in a variety of environments. European polecats prefer areas near fresh water, such as wetlands, riverbanks, and the edges of forests. They also inhabit woodlands, scrublands, and even agricultural land or areas near human settlements like farm buildings.
Steppe polecats predominantly inhabit open landscapes, including steppes, semi-deserts, pastures, and cultivated fields, generally avoiding densely forested areas. Their presence often aligns with populations of ground squirrels and hamsters, which are primary prey. In Europe, they have adapted to agricultural landscapes with mosaics of grasslands and small fields.
Marbled polecats typically occupy dry desert, semi-deserts, and steppe habitats. They are also found in arid subtropical scrub forests and low hill ranges. In some areas, these polecats utilize cultivated lands, such as melon patches and vegetable fields, and can be found near human activity.
Lifestyle and Shelter
Polecats are primarily nocturnal, meaning they are most active during the night, though females with young may forage during the day. This nocturnal behavior necessitates secure resting places for daytime shelter. Polecats are generally solitary animals, maintaining individual home ranges that can vary in size depending on habitat and food availability.
They often utilize existing natural and human-made structures for dens. Common shelter sites include abandoned burrows of other animals, such as rabbits, badgers, or foxes. They may also find shelter in hollow logs, rock crevices, or dense vegetation. Polecats can be opportunistic, using human-made structures like haystacks, sheds, or even rubbish tips, particularly in winter, for daytime resting and hunting prey like rodents. While polecats are capable of digging their own dens, they frequently prefer to use pre-existing sites.