silver pigeon69 Posted March 16, 2020 Report Share Posted March 16, 2020 As per title, is this a Ferret or Stoat? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted March 16, 2020 Report Share Posted March 16, 2020 ferret to big for a stoat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon69 Posted March 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2020 Just now, clangerman said: ferret to big for a stoat Ok thanks. Do they travel far? If not he must have been wild for 2+ years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertt Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Polecat ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Polecat I would say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Polecats are generally darker in colour. My guess is that it is a feral ferret. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon69 Posted March 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 48 minutes ago, Robertt said: Polecat ? Could be? Didn't think of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Impossible to tell if it's a ferret or Polecat as many domestic Ferrets have the same appearance - no doubt cross breeding over the years - if it is a Polecat then you would be wise not to put down any type of trap that may catch/harm it as they are a protected species.Hope it is a Wild Polecat, I have never been fortunate enough to see one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twenty Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Doesn't appear to have a dark enough mask for a polecat, from the images it looks like a ferret. We have a reasonable number of polecat in the Forest of Dean, and after studying various road kill polecat, the mask is the defining factor, plus they appear to be slightly bigger than ferrets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 ferett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Pure polecat or polecat ferret? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m greeny Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Ferret without a doubt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Yep, looks like a cross polecat ferret without doubt, difficult in night vision but the demarkation on the colours is not quite as sharp as in a straight one to one pole cat/ferret cross. Found one in the farm yard a week or so ago which probably fell fowl of eating a live/dead rat which had eaten poison and that one had very dark markings. Another give away is the body shape, typical hunched movement of a ferret. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 3 hours ago, JDog said: Polecats are generally darker in colour. My guess is that it is a feral ferret. Forgive me as I have no experience using NV....but does not light colouration show up as dark and vice versa when using it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge911 Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 11 hours ago, clangerman said: ferret to big for a stoat agreed 100% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside1000 Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, Robertt said: Polecat ? Definitely Polecat, larger member of the ferrets, I used to do a bit of rabbiting with them and they often 'got away' never to be seen again. Just as destructive as the wild mink, as I understand it these are an invasive species and not protected but I may be wrong!! Edited March 17, 2020 by lakeside1000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninjaferret Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Polecat, ferret cross, far far too light for pure polecat. And looks to be well fed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 7 hours ago, bruno22rf said: Impossible to tell if it's a ferret or Polecat as many domestic Ferrets have the same appearance - no doubt cross breeding over the years - if it is a Polecat then you would be wise not to put down any type of trap that may catch/harm it as they are a protected species.Hope it is a Wild Polecat, I have never been fortunate enough to see one. Yep, under the wildlife and countryside act 1981. Also deemed of principal importance for diversity in England. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modafinale Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Isn’t it illegal to illuminate a protected mammal ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 19 minutes ago, Modafinale said: Isn’t it illegal to illuminate a protected mammal ? What particular law would that be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 59 minutes ago, Modafinale said: Isn’t it illegal to illuminate a protected mammal ? Can you throw some more light on that statement? 6 hours ago, panoma1 said: Forgive me as I have no experience using NV....but does not light colouration show up as dark and vice versa when using it? Bit of a negative comment 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyefor Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 (edited) On 17/03/2020 at 07:52, bruno22rf said: Impossible to tell if it's a ferret or Polecat as many domestic Ferrets have the same appearance - no doubt cross breeding over the years - if it is a Polecat then you would be wise not to put down any type of trap that may catch/harm it as they are a protected species.Hope it is a Wild Polecat, I have never been fortunate enough to see one. Saw my first wild Polecat last Sunday (15th) after 50+ years of various moochings around the British countryside. Just south of Winwick on the Cambridgeshire / East Northamptonshire border and the face "mask: was very dark (looked like a comedy sketch burglars mask) and extended down the nose. Lovely to see it there - it was miles from where I shoot! That one in the picture looks like a ferret. Edited March 18, 2020 by Eyefor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modafinale Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Sorry I remembered it incorrectly was thinking about Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 sect 11class license is required to permit the following: schedule 6 wild animal Artificial light or any device for illuminating a target or sighting device for night shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad93 Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Never seen a polecat. how would you tell a poleCat and ferret Apart? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modafinale Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Stroke it 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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