The Polecat

An interesting mammal at Llys-y-Frân is the polecat, the wild cousin of the domesticated ferret. Identified by its distinctive bandit-mask with white stripes across its dark face, the polecat has a two-tone coat: dark brown guard hairs cover a buff-coloured underfur. It has a short, dark tail and rounded ears.

The polecat was driven to near-extinction in Britain and survived mainly here in West Wales although it has now successfully expanded its range across the country and into England. The polecat hunts at night, mostly preying on rabbits and small rodents but it may also eat frogs, birds and snakes.