The European Polecat, rarely seen in the British countryside, closest relative is the ferret

---

The European polecat is the sole ancestor of the ferret, which was domesticated more than 2000 years ago for the purpose of hunting vermin. The species has otherwise been historically viewed negatively by humans. In the British Isles especially, the polecat was persecuted by gamekeepers

---

Size: 5175px × 3450px
Location: Devon UK
Photo credit: © Sheree Sedgbeer / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

Keywords: ancestor, animal, black, british, carnivore, country, countryside, domesticated, european, fallen, ferret, fitch, forest, fur, grass, hunting, mammal, mustelid, natural, nature, open, polecat, rarely, relative, setting, species, tree, trunk, vermin., white, wild, wildlife, woodland