Species Account for Mustela putorius
Mustela putorius Linnaeus, 1758
Polecat
Mammals: Mustelidae
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Taxonomic group: other mammals (Mammals) - County data
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Essex RDB: Listed
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First polecat record was in autumn 1999 - a genuine individual considered to be related to Herts polecats which were re-introduced there in around 1982. The record was from west of Saffron Walden and was identified from slides sent to Johnny Birks of the Vincent Wildlife Trust, the national expert. Presumably they are slowly colonising although there are few records from NW Essex. Another dead on road record from Uttlesford (Wimbish) suggest this species may be re-established in NW Essex (D. Corke, pers. comm.).
Habitats
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