"Pole Cats in Lichfield Staffordshire"

Nick Davis · #1 (**permalink**) 15-04-2010, 05:53 PM

hi all, i was driving in the outskirts of lichfield the other day and to my supprise saw a dead polecat in the middle of the road. So i looked on the springwatch site from last year and found quite a few comments from people that had seen them in exactly the same area! has anyone else had a sighting around there? could this be a small stronghold for the very secrative creature?

cheers Nick

Rob_D · #2 (**permalink**) 16-04-2010, 07:53 AM

Hi Nick & Welcome to WAB

I've never seen a Polecat alive in the wild, but they are now common around North Hertfordshire judging by the numbers I see dead on the roads (10 or so a year). They've been fairly steadily re-colonising Britain for the last 2 decades or more, spreading from Wales, plus a few release sites like in Herts. I think they are well re-established around the West Midlands, but not so much East of that.

The Vincent Wildlife Trust have done some great survey work on Polecats and published a distribution map. 2006 polecat map pdf

Much more rare are the relict Pine Marten populations in Staffordshire. They were present some years ago, but may or may not have died out recently. There are supposed to be sightings every so often, but no firm evidence yet.

Nick Davis · #3 (**permalink**) 16-04-2010, 09:38 AM

thanks for that Rob,

i am so glad to hear that they are making a come back and didnt think they were inhabiting the areas around me atall. So was extreemly shocked to see one dead. But thanks for clearing that up for me.

I will be keeping my eyes peeled when i'm next around those parts!

many thanks Nick.

lewiso · #4 (**permalink**) 17-04-2010, 07:16 PM

hi i used to be a taxi driver in stafford and ive seen about 5 dead on the roads in and around cannock chase and also 2 alive one was by milford and the other by rugeley.so im sure there must be loads around there if ive been lucky enough to see 2,

The Woodman · #5 (**permalink**) 17-04-2010, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob_D

Hi Nick & Welcome to WAB

Much more rare are the relict Pine Marten populations in Staffordshire. They were present some years ago, but may or may not have died out recently. There are supposed to be sightings every so often, but no firm evidence yet.

The VWT have the firm evidence of a PM in Staffs Rob, a couple of photos taken of a beast in a tree outside a property in the Churnet Valley in April 2004.

Apologies to the OP - not Polecats but their relatives!

paulthomas · #6 (**permalink**) 18-04-2010, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Davis

hi all, i was driving in the outskirts of lichfield the other day and to my supprise saw a dead polecat in the middle of the road. So i looked on the springwatch site from last year and found quite a few comments from people that had seen them in exactly the same area! has anyone else had a sighting around there? could this be a small stronghold for the very secrative creature?

cheers Nick

I've found quite a few dead ones in the Lichfield area over the last few years. I've also seen (albeit at it at night under light of a very dim torch) a live one on the fringes of Cannock Chase. I have no reason to believe that the area is any more a hot-spot than anywhere else in the county as this page from SER shows:
Staffordshire Ecological Record: Mammals. Most (if not all) of these records will have come from road-kill.

Nick Davis · #7 (**permalink**) 18-04-2010, 08:29 PM

thanks for this info guys, i really had no idea they were doing so well! I am quite often roaming cannock chase with my camera photographing birds so i will make an effort to stay extra late or go extra early befor light to have a hunt for the elusive cats. And may be able to bring you some pics sometime (even if it does take a year or so)...

many thanks nick.

Rob_D · #8 (**permalink**) 19-04-2010, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Woodman

The VWT have the firm evidence of a PM in Staffs Rob, a couple of photos taken of a beast in a tree outside a property in the Churnet Valley in April 2004.

Apologies to the OP - not Polecats but their relatives!

Thanks Woodman, I have been following the VWT efforts via the web Pine Martens - The Vincent Wildlife Trust - they mention 3rd party sightings, but not a photo.