Polecat
Mustela putorius
Length 45-55cm

Sometimes confused with dark forms of escaped polecat-ferret but true polecat always has appearance of dark mask on face. Body fur rather variable in colour but usually dark brown with paler flanks. Rather secretive and mainly nocturnal. Favours wooded areas. In the past, much persecuted by gamekeepers and now restricted mainly to C Scotland, border counties and C Wales.