What is a polecat?
Q: What is a polecat?
A: A polecat is a medium-sized Mustelid, which is a term for a family of carnivorous mammals that includes weasels, ferrets, and otters.
Q: Are there different species of polecats?
A: Yes, there are several similar species of polecats, and they do not form a single clade.
Q: Which polecat species is native to the British Isles?
A: The European polecat is the only polecat species native to the British Isles.
Q: What are ferrets?
A: Ferrets are the domesticated form of European polecats.
Q: What is the reason why skunks are sometimes referred to as polecats in the U.S.?
A: Skunks are only distantly related to the European polecat, but the term polecat is often applied to them in the U.S. because polecats give off a scent which some people think is offensive.
Q: Are polecats and skunks the same animal?
A: No, polecats and skunks are not the same animal, although they are both carnivorous mammals and are sometimes confused due to the common use of the term polecat to refer to skunks in the U.S.
Q: Do all polecats give off an offensive scent?
A: It is not specified whether all polecats give off an offensive scent, but some people think that the scent emitted by polecats is unpleasant.
