European polecat

The European polecat (Mustela putorius)—also called the black polecat or forest polecat—is a mustelid found across Europe and in the Rif mountains. Its fur is generally dark brown, with a pale belly and a dark facial mask. Colour mutations such as albino, leucistic, isabelline, xanthochromic, amelanistic, and erythristic forms occasionally appear. Compared to other members of the genus *Mustela*, it has a shorter, more compact body, a sturdier skull and teeth, and is less agile. It is well known for its ability to release a particularly foul-smelling liquid to mark territory.

This species is far less territorial than other mustelids; individuals of the same sex often share home ranges. Like its relatives, the European polecat is polygamous. Mating induces ovulation, and pregnancy follows. Litters of five to ten kits are usually born in early summer, and the young become independent at two to three months old. Its diet includes small rodents, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. It sometimes cripples prey by biting into its brain, then stores the still-living animal in its burrow for later.

The European polecat originated in Western Europe during the Middle Pleistocene. Its closest living relatives are the steppe polecat, the black-footed ferret, and the European mink. It can produce fertile offspring with the first two species, but hybrids with the European mink tend to be sterile and are distinguished by their larger size and more valuable pelts.

The ferret is thought to be descended solely from the European polecat, domesticated over 2,000 years ago for hunting vermin. Historically, humans have viewed the polecat negatively. In Britain especially, gamekeepers persecuted it, and early English literature used it as a symbol of promiscuity. In modern times, it appears rarely in popular culture compared to other rare British mammals, and misunderstandings about its behaviour persist in some rural areas. Since 2008, the IUCN Red List has classified it as Least Concern, given its wide range and large population.

**Etymology and naming**

The word "polecat" entered English after the Norman Conquest, written as *polcat* in Middle English. The second syllable is straightforward, but the first is uncertain—it may come from the French *poule* (chicken), referring to the animal’s taste for poultry, or from the Old English *fūl* (foul). In Middle English, it was also called *foumart*, meaning "foul marten," due to its strong odour. In Old French, it was *fissau*, from Low German and Scandinavian words for "to make a disagreeable smell." This became *fitchew* or *fitchet* in English, later shortened to *fitch* for its pelt. *Fitchet* is the root of the North American fisher’s name, given by Dutch colonists who saw similarities between the two species. In places like New Zealand, "fitch" now broadly refers to related animals such as ferrets, especially when farmed for fur.

A 2002 article in *Mammal Review* questioned whether the European polecat is truly native to Britain, citing a scarce fossil record and linguistic evidence. Unlike most native British mammals, its Welsh name (*ffwlbart*, from Middle English *foulmart*) is not of Celtic origin—similar to the Welsh names of invasive species like the European rabbit (*cwningen*, from Middle English *konyng*) and fallow deer (*danas*, from Old French *dain*). Polecats do not appear in Anglo-Saxon or Welsh literature before the Norman Conquest; the first Welsh mention is in the 14th-century *Llyfr Coch Hergest*, and the first English one in Chaucer’s *The Pardoner’s Tale* (1383). In contrast, the Welsh word for pine marten (*bele*) appears in 10th-century Welsh Laws and possibly earlier in northern England.

**Local and indigenous names**

Probably no other British animal has had as many colloquial names as the polecat. In southern England it was usually called *fitchou*, in the north *foumat* or *foumard*. Many other variations existed, including *philbert*, *fulmer*, *fishock*, *filibart*, *poulcat*, and *poll cat*. Charles Oldham identified at least 20 different versions just in the Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire area.

**Latin name**

The scientific name *Mustela putorius* also refers to the animal’s smell. The Latin *putorius* means "stench" or "stink," and is the source of the English word *putrid*.

**Evolution**

The earliest true polecat was *Mustela stromeri*, which appeared in the late Villafranchian. It was much smaller than the modern form, indicating that polecats evolved relatively late. The oldest fossils of the modern European polecat come from Germany, Britain, and France, dating to the Middle Pleistocene. Its closest relatives—the steppe polecat and black-footed ferret—likely share *Mustela stromeri* as a common ancestor. The European polecat is less specialised for carnivory than the steppe polecat, with a less adapted skull and teeth. It probably diverged from the steppe polecat about 1.5 million years ago.