The African polecat, also called the striped polecat or zorilla (Ictonyx striatus), is a close relative of the African weasel, but larger and with a longer coat. It has a mainly black coat with white stripes down its sides, three white dots on its face and white-rimmed ears. Polecats are common throughout South Africa and produce a very potent, foul odour when threatened.
Name
Sriped Polecat / Zorilla [Ictonyx striatus]
Appearance
The Pole Cat is a close relative of the African Weasel but is larger in size and has a longer coat. The Polecat has a head to tail length of 550mm, with the tail making up 200mm of that, and weighs up to a kilogram. It has a primarily black coat with white stripes running down their sides. They have the iconic 3 white dots on its face with white rimmed ears.
Diet
African Polecats’ diet consists mainly of small prey like scorpion, snakes, rodents, lizards, spiders and insects. The polecat uses its nose to sniff out and dig up their food.
Breeding
Breeding season lasts through spring into early summer. Polecats have a gestation period of 36 days, where a litter of three are born. The teeth of the young start to show after 33 days and their eyes open after 40 days. Young reach adulthood at the age of 20 weeks and can hunt prey like rats as early as 9 weeks. These animals are solitary animals unless it is mating season. Females stay with that year’s young until they are old enough to leave.
Habitat
Polecats inhabit a large variety of habitats except for dense, evergreen forests. There animals are a rather common animal seen all throughout South Africa.
Interesting Notes
The polecat has a unique ability to create a very potent and fowl odour when threatened. The smell is so powerful that it has been observed that a Polecat faced 3 lions and stood its ground. The lions eventually gave up the effort because of the smell.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is an African polecat?
An African polecat measures 550 mm from head to tail, with the tail making up 200 mm of that, and weighs up to a kilogram. It is larger than its close relative, the African weasel, and has a longer coat.
What does an African polecat eat?
African polecats eat mainly small prey, including scorpions, snakes, rodents, lizards, spiders and insects. A polecat uses its nose to sniff out its food and then digs it up.
Why do polecats smell so bad?
A polecat produces a very potent, foul odour when it is threatened. The smell is so powerful that a polecat has been observed standing its ground against lions, which eventually gave up because of the smell.
Where do African polecats live?
Polecats live in a large variety of habitats, except dense, evergreen forests, and they are a rather common animal throughout South Africa. They are solitary animals except during the mating season.
How do African polecats breed?
The breeding season runs through spring into early summer. After a gestation period of 36 days, a litter of three is born. The young's eyes open after 40 days, they can hunt prey such as rats from 9 weeks, and they reach adulthood at 20 weeks.
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