EU POLECAt & hybrid
By Sarah Jo Fishleigh
European Polecats (mustela putorius, also called 'EUs') are the 'wild' version of the domesticated ferret; a lot of people claim to keep these robust creatures, however they are commonly mistaken with the sable coloured ferret (in which the colour is also called polecat, and sometimes even 'fitch'). European Polecats can be bred to the domesticated ferret and have fertile offspring, which are normally called 'hybrids'; I believe most European Polecats now have ferret somewhere in their lineage due to wild ferrets (lost or released workers, pets, etc.), however this can not be proven or disproven, as of yet. It is hard to tell if a European Polecat is a pure European Polecat due to selective breeding of standard ferrets for the darker sable coat and from breeding Polecat into standard lines to create 'healthier' ferret hybrids. In my personal experience, and with what I have learnt over the past few years of owning my EUs (high percentage hybrid or pure - brought as pure, but not 100%), I can say that they are different to your general standard ferret in appearance and temperament; they are of a solid muscular build, very strong all-round, wide skulls, low set ears, colouring normally consists of dark brown-black guard hairs (as like in sable ferrets) with a cream-apricot undercoat colour (whereas sable ferrets are normally white-cream), dark mask with a bridge of pigment over to a dark brown nose, and the temperament can range depending on upbringing - but normally possess specific traits such as being timid/cautious to different surroundings/noises, aggressive/determined when they want to be... however, I have seemed to have made a good bond with my 'EUs' and can trust them... most of the time. I wouldn't advise owing European Polecats or any percentage hybrids until you have experience owning and enjoying standard ferrets.
European Polecats (mustela putorius, also called 'EUs') are the 'wild' version of the domesticated ferret; a lot of people claim to keep these robust creatures, however they are commonly mistaken with the sable coloured ferret (in which the colour is also called polecat, and sometimes even 'fitch'). European Polecats can be bred to the domesticated ferret and have fertile offspring, which are normally called 'hybrids'; I believe most European Polecats now have ferret somewhere in their lineage due to wild ferrets (lost or released workers, pets, etc.), however this can not be proven or disproven, as of yet. It is hard to tell if a European Polecat is a pure European Polecat due to selective breeding of standard ferrets for the darker sable coat and from breeding Polecat into standard lines to create 'healthier' ferret hybrids. In my personal experience, and with what I have learnt over the past few years of owning my EUs (high percentage hybrid or pure - brought as pure, but not 100%), I can say that they are different to your general standard ferret in appearance and temperament; they are of a solid muscular build, very strong all-round, wide skulls, low set ears, colouring normally consists of dark brown-black guard hairs (as like in sable ferrets) with a cream-apricot undercoat colour (whereas sable ferrets are normally white-cream), dark mask with a bridge of pigment over to a dark brown nose, and the temperament can range depending on upbringing - but normally possess specific traits such as being timid/cautious to different surroundings/noises, aggressive/determined when they want to be... however, I have seemed to have made a good bond with my 'EUs' and can trust them... most of the time. I wouldn't advise owing European Polecats or any percentage hybrids until you have experience owning and enjoying standard ferrets.