JAN EDWARDS: Relict polecat

I have in my freezer at home the body of a monster….. Well not QUITE, but a bloody big animal.

The attached pics are rather gory as they show a road casualty. I thought it was a native polecat, but it seems it is a hybrid with a hell of a lot of polecat in it. Virtually 2 foot long, male, dark in colour, the only thing that actually distinguishes it from a true polecat is that it’s facial mask doesn’t touch the nose in the centre. It was found in Weardale, on the A689 main road through the dale, close to a stone quarry, and less than 5 miles from the sanctuary. There are no reports of genuine native polecats in Co Durham, as far as I am aware (but several sightings over the border in Cumbria), but the presence of a 90% purebred, seems to indicate there are pure polecats in the area. You never quite know what’s “out there” do you?



I thought you might be interested.

Jan Edwards, Head of Animal Care
Farplace Animal Rescue
Sidehead, Westgate
County Durham
DL13 1LE
Tel: 01388 517397 / 07860 523434