Polecat

[Fletcher 0]

I was out today at a rabbit control job I've been picking away at and in one of the snares was a polecat which was pretty p*ssed off, the lady of the house came down as she'd never seen a wild polecat. Anyway she asked if it possible to get it in a box and tame it. I told her to crack on, theres no way I was gonna try get it in a box, so I managed to release it unharmed with the aid of a broom and a pair of side cutters.

Anyway has any one on here caught and tamed a wild polecat?

Edited June 16, 2007 by Fletcher

[OldTrapCollector 377]

I also caught a big wild polecat in a wire years ago and tried to keep it. I took it home in a ferret box, and during the first night it ate its way through 1" marine plywood on the roof of my ferret hutch but was still in the shed. After a period of trying to win the mexican standoff between us I let it go again.

 

I fared better with a tiny polecat kit I found in the back of a cage trap but that too didn't tame either to be honest. I bred a litter of kits off her but they too were wild as wild can be and I ended up letting them all go too.

 

OTC

[sidebyside 0]

Be aware that if you catch a polecat in a trap you may well be in breach of the law if you re set the traps in the same area.

[Fletcher 0]

Be aware that if you catch a polecat in a trap you may well be in breach of the law if you re set the traps in the same area.

What law is that then?

[wife 1]

Be aware that if you catch a polecat in a trap you may well be in breach of the law if you re set the traps in the same area.

What law is that then?

we caught one when out lamping once and although we kept it for a good while it was not what i would of called tamed,some other lads had it and bred off it ,before the usual comes up i have no idea why they would want to breed of it

[john b 38]

Be aware that if you catch a polecat in a trap you may well be in breach of the law if you re set the traps in the same area.

What law is that then?

 

I guess it's down to interpretation. The DEFRA Snaring code of practice includes this section:

 

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is an offence to set in position

any trap or snare calculated (intended) to cause bodily injury to any wild

animal included in Schedule 6 of that Act which comes into contact with it, or

to use a trap or snare for the purpose of killing such a wild animal; relevant

species listed in Schedule 6 include badger, polecat, otter, red squirrel,

hedgehog and pine marten.

You could argue, I suppose, that if you've already caught one at a site then you are knowingly setting in area of increased risk. However it does say "intended" not "likely".

[Fletcher 0]

Thanks for clearing that up john, a polecat was definitely not my intended species, I don't enjoy cutting me snares.

[john b 38]

I'm no expert Fletcher - there may be more to it than that ...

[highlander 0]

There aint many wild polecats up this way fletch sure her wasnt just a ferral one I see the out one out west but never seen one up by you. I used to breed polecat hybrids and they where mad if you didnt handle them properly but they where deamon ratters. You should have tried to get a pick of it.

 

Regards highlander

[Fletcher 0]

There aint many wild polecats up this way fletch sure her wasnt just a ferral one I see the out one out west but never seen one up by you. I used to breed polecat hybrids and they where mad if you didnt handle them properly but they where deamon ratters. You should have tried to get a pick of it.

 

Regards highlander

Could have been ferral mate, he was pretty big and pretty mad, he looked in top condition though. This the second one in the last couple of years.

John I know theres more to it I was just being a knob.

Lifted the snares today anyway as I can't garentee I can check them twice a day this week as I like to.

[sidebyside 0]

As a rule of thumb, escapee fitcher cross ferrets will often have ticks very very rarely do ticks stay long on a true polecat.

[J Darcy 5,871]

As a rule of thumb, escapee fitcher cross ferrets will often have ticks very very rarely do ticks stay long on a true polecat.

Are you sure about that???

[OldTrapCollector 377]

As a rule of thumb, escapee fitcher cross ferrets will often have ticks very very rarely do ticks stay long on a true polecat.

Are you sure about that???

 

Seems a bit odd to me too - SxS - how do you come to that decision? Surely two wild animals in a similar situation in the wild would have an equal chance of picking up ticks?

 

OTC

[sidebyside 0]

Some how a polecat manages to get rid of ticks, over the years I seen quite a few fitchers that have been lost and also plenty of polecats ( I wont say why the polecats have been seen) 99% of the true polecats have been free from ticks, the fitcher most times have been covered with the liitle shits. Before you ask how you tell the difference, take it from me you will know which one has seen a human before.

Edited June 17, 2007 by sidebyside

[Fletcher 0]

I wasn't really looking for ticks, more concerned with releasing him without getting nailed.