Polecat

[JB9302]

Hi,
Just joined today after being directed to site , saw my 1st Polecat in our back garden 2 weeks ago , I was just going to bed and the rear security light activated , its usually the local cat on patrol but I was pleasanty suprised to see a Polecat .
I know there is always a possibility of an escaped polecat ferret but the colouring and face markings looked right to me.
We are about 11 miles east of Manchester in Stalybridge close to Derbyshire/Yorkshire boundries .
Set the camcorder up to record all through the night for a week but no others sightings .

Julian

[Dogghound]

As you say there is always a possibility of it being a feral ferret, although theres still a chance of it being a wild one especially in this area. The chances are it was just passing by, they are quite elusive so its unlikely you will see it again im afraid. Welcome to W.A.B.

[Hedge Witch]

Hi, welcome to WAB, Julian. That sighting sounds brilliant.

[Davy Crockett]

Hi Julian keep a look out and have camera at the ready, I don't think they are common in East Lancs. Indeed, any ware in Lancashire at all

Hope you see it again soon.

[demicav]

Hi, welcome to WAB. A great sighting. I saw a dead Polecat by the side of the road in Devon in Summer. I think they're spreading further afield though as already said not sure of their presence in Lancashire. It would be wonderful if they were.

[JB9302]

There was an article on our N/W news a few months ago about their reinsurgence in Cheshire , I looked at the sighting map on here http://www.vwt.org.uk/publications/S..._July_2006.pdf
and we are within the green sighting locations .
The area I live is actually part of Greater Manchester now , it used to be Cheshire prior to boundry change .

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by JB9302

The area I live is actually part of Greater Manchester now , it used to be Cheshire prior to boundry change .

Greater Manchester is only an administrative region, you champion Cheshire, loud and proud!
Anyway, back to the main point of the thread. I don't live too far from Stalybridge, so it's good to know they are on their way back. I have an account in an old local book somewhere, telling of the last Polecat in Saddleworth, smoked out of a drain over 100 years ago. As for Lancashire sightings, I saw a dead one near Carnforth earlier this year.

Regards, Chris

[Lenswork]

Hi Julian welcome, you put that new lens to good use mate and post up a pic of the polecat WHEN you get one not if.

Len

[Rob_D]

Welcome Julian. That's great that you've seen one, especially in your area. The VWT 2004-2006 survey report suggested pure polecats were doing well in Cheshire and Derbyshire, but that Liverpool/Manchester/Yorkshire urban areas were forming a barrier, so it'd be good if that has now been breached.

Very hard to tell some dark polecat-ferrets from polecats, they can be almost indistinguishable. If the fur colour and face markings are right, it is more likely to be polecat than hybrid, but not certain. According to the VWT report, the pale throat patch can sometimes be a good indicator. Polecats have small throat patches (<40mm) and many, but not all, polecat-ferrets much larger patches (>60mm, often 100mm). Can't imagine that's easy to tell with most sightings though.

Hope it returns and you do manage to get some video/pictures.
Rob

[JB9302]

I didn"t previously mention it but I recorded a few seconds of the sighting ( very poorly I might add ) on my camcorder , You would have to be expecting and wishing to see a Polecat if you know what I mean. I made the mistake of zooming in where I saw it a few secs before I returned with the cam , should have kept it wide open .
Showed it to my brother who thought it could gone either way , feral polecat ferret or polecat .

Julian