Mustela putorius

European polecat
92/43/EEC Directive ann. V

It has a rather slender shape, it reaches 45 cm in length; the head is flat, the nose wide with small eyes and ears low and round. The average weight of 500-1000 grams. The fur  color is blackish brown with a white and black facial mask face. The males are heavier and longer than females.
The species lives in very different environments, but prefer moist environments. It is mainly nocturnal; its diet is mainly carnivorous and includes a wide variety of animals such as rodents, hares and rabbits, amphibians, birds, reptiles, fish, annelids, molluscs and insects. It is preyed upon occasionally by the golden eagle and by large owls. It is threatened by environmental changes (deforestation, drainage of wetlands, water channeling) and by poaching. A recent threat is the risk of genetic pollution due to the presence of feral populations of ferrets.