Polecat Mustela putorius

The Polecat (Mustela putorius) – Britain’s rarest native mustelid for much of the twentieth century – is undergoing a significant range expansion following its recovery from near-extinction in Wales and the Welsh Borders. The species is now recolonising East Anglia, and sightings in Suffolk have increased in recent years as the population moves steadily eastwards. Identification can be complicated by hybridisation with escaped domestic ferrets, requiring careful assessment of facial mask and patterning characters. Suffolk records should be carefully documented and submitted, as they contribute to the national picture of polecat recovery. Rough habitat, hedgerows, and river corridors provide key refuges. Image: © Helen Haden, Flickr.

Find out more: The Mammal Society, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, iNaturalist