European polecat: Where It Lives, Map & Facts

Where the European polecat lives – recorded in 14 countries, with quick facts from Wikidata and an introduction from Wikipedia.

Scientific name	Mustela putorius
Group	Weasels, otters, badgers & skunks
Status	Least concern (Wikidata, IUCN category label)
Found in	14 countries
Continents	Europe
Class	Mammal
Order	Carnivora
Family	Mustelidae

Where does the European polecat live?

Open-licence (CC0 / CC BY) wild records published on GBIF place the European polecat in 14 countries and territories across Europe. In Spain, Portugal it is listed as introduced (GRIIS checklists via GBIF).

Countries with at least a handful of records (a minimum share of the species’ records, to leave out vagrants and escapes). Records with coordinates only; captive and fossil records excluded.

Is the European polecat endangered?

The European polecat’s conservation status recorded in Wikidata is “Least concern” (an IUCN Red List category label). Source: Wikidata.

What kind of animal is the European polecat?

The European polecat (Mustela putorius) is a mammal in the order Carnivora and the family Mustelidae, genus Mustela. (Taxonomy from Wikidata.)

About the European polecat

The European polecat (Mustela putorius), also known as the western polecat, is a mustelid species occurring in Europe and the Rif mountains. It is of a generally dark brown colour, with a pale underbelly and a dark mask across the face. Occasionally, colour mutations including albinos, leucists, isabellinists, xanthochromists, amelanists, and erythrists occur. It has a shorter, more compact body than other Mustela species, a more powerfully built skull and dentition, is less agile, and is well known for having the characteristic ability to secrete a particularly foul-smelling liquid to mark its territory.

Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article European polecat (revision 1374902458), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: lead section excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Quick facts, taxonomy and status: Wikidata Q26582 (CC0). Countries and pin: GBIF.org occurrence records (CC0 / CC BY 4.0).