European polecat

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.

Keywords: black , brown

Which zoos have them?
Saint Louis Zoological Park (United States)


Namings for the European polecat
A young / baby of a European polecat is called a 'kit'. The females are called 'jill' and males 'hob'. A European polecat group is called a 'chine'.
Some facts about the
European polecat

Adult weight : 0.809 kg (1.7798 lbs)

Maximum longevity : 11 years

Female maturity :312 days

Male maturity : 322 days

Gestation : 42 days

Weaning : 63 days

Litter size : 8

Litters per year : 2

Interval between litters : 140 days

Weight at birth : 0.01 kg (0.022 lbs)

Source: AnAge, licensed under CC

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