Road kill Polecat NW.Essex 9-2-19 (1 Viewer)

KenM · Jun 9, 2019

Road kill Polecat NW.Essex 9-6-19

Probably like most people interested in wildlife, I've yet to see a live Polecat. Assuming that this road-kill was just that (if possible to ascertain from the supplied image ie....no apparent ferret influence?) I do know that during the last census 2014-15, c 1700+Polecats were seen/found, and 50% of the total were road-kill, wondering if they are still spreading/increasing in the South East...as this constitutes the 2nd corpse that I've come across in five years, the first one being found dead on a horse-ride in London.

cheers

Andy Adcock · Jun 9, 2019

KenM said:
Probably like most people interested in wildlife, I've yet to see a live Polecat. Assuming that this road-kill was just that (if possible to ascertain from the supplied image ie....no apparent ferret influence?) I do know that during the last census 2014-15, c 1700+Polecats were seen/found, and 50% of the total were road-kill, wondering if they are still spreading/increasing in the South East...as this constitutes the 2nd corpse that I've come across in five years, the first one being found dead on a horse-ride in London.

cheers

What was a Polecat doing on a horse......:eek!:

Nutcracker · Jun 9, 2019

Pale body makes me suspect there's a fair bit of Ferret influence in there.

Nutcracker · Jun 9, 2019

andyadcock said:
What was a Polecat doing on a horse......:eek!:

They're well-known for taking prey larger than themselves :t:

But, well, . . . . it died, of course.

KenM · Jun 9, 2019

andyadcock said:
What was a Polecat doing on a horse......:eek!:

Nutcracker said:
They're well-known for taking prey larger than themselves :t:

But, well, . . . . it died, of course.

......Good to know “Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee” arse still alive and “Horsing around” :-O

Andy Adcock · Jun 10, 2019

KenM said:
......Good to know “Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee” arse still alive and “Horsing around” :-O

arsing around no doubt.

Hotspur · Jun 10, 2019

Nutcracker said:
Pale body makes me suspect there's a fair bit of Ferret influence in there.

Thats not a criteria. Id is done on face mask. Many more road kills are shown to be pure Polecat than polecat-ferret. Given the photo I wouldnt want to comment on ID but they have colonised the SE with records from Essex and Kent.

https://www.vwt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Polecat-Report-2016.pdf

Nutcracker · Jun 10, 2019

Hotspur said:
Thats not a criteria.

It is criterion 1 on the list at para 2.3 of the article you attached!

1. Body fur paler than the wild polecat type (taking account of seasonal pelage variations)

Farnboro John · Jun 10, 2019

Nutcracker said:
It is criterion 1 on the list at para 2.3 of the article you attached!

Yes, although you would expect pale under-fur to show through in winter, at this time of year Polecats should have lost most of that and look dark. The body also shows pale on the hind foot at least - and pale claws? - more indications of ferret influence.

You cannot have "a criteria".

John

KenM · Jun 10, 2019

Farnboro John said:
You cannot have "a criteria".

John

But you can have “a critter” :-O

Road kill Polecat NW.Essex 9-2-19 (1 Viewer)

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