What is European polecat?
{{speciesbox|name=European polecat|fossil_range=[[Middle Pleistocene]]&nbsp;– Recent|status=LC|status_system=IUCN3.1|status_ref=<ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |title=''Mustela putorius'' |author=Skumatov, D. |author2=Abramov, A.V. |author3=Herrero, J. |author4=Kitchener, A. |author5=Maran, T. |author6=Kranz, A.|author7=Sándor, A. |author8=Stubbe, M. |author9=Saveljev, A. |author10=Savour-Soubelet, A. |author11=Guinot-Ghestem, M.; Zuberogoitia, I.; Birks, J.D.S.; Weber, A.; Melisch, R. & Ruette, S. |year=2016 |page=e.T41658A45214384}}</ref>|image=Storm the polecat.jpg|image_caption=Welsh polecat (''M. p. anglia'') at the [[British Wildlife Centre]], [[Newchapel, Surrey]]|genus=Mustela|species=putorius|authority=[[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]]|range_map=Mustela putorius distribution.svg|range_map_caption=Geographic range}} The '''European polecat''' (''Mustela putorius'') &nbsp;is a species of [[mustelid]] native to western Eurasia and north [[Morocco]]. It is also known as the '''common polecat''', '''black''' or '''forest polecat''', '''European ferret''', '''wild ferret''', '''foumart''', '''fitch''', or simply '''polecat'''. It is dark brown, with a pale underbelly and a dark mask across the face. Occasionally, there are other color variations, such as [[Albinism|albinos]]. The family it is in also contains [[mink]]s and other [[weasel]]s. Compared to them, the polecat has a shorter, more compact body; a more powerfully built skull and teeth; and is less agile. It is well known for its ability to secrete a particularly foul-smelling liquid to mark its territory. It is much less territorial than other mustelid. Animals of the same sex frequently share home ranges. Like other mustelids, the European polecat is [[Polygamy|polygamous]], with [[pregnancy]] occurring after mating, with no induced ovulation. It usually gives birth in early summer to litters consisting of five to ten kits, which become independent at the age of two to three months. The European polecat feeds on small