Polecats were once persecuted to near-extinction in Britain but have been recovering naturally since the mid-20th century. Understanding threats to their welfare supports continued range expansion.
Polecats recovering into new areas face high road mortality as they establish territories and cross unfamiliar road networks. Secondary poisoning from consuming rodenticide-killed rats and mice causes internal bleeding and slow death — a significant welfare harm for an animal whose recovery represents a genuine conservation success. Continuing illegal persecution on some game estates remains a localised but serious welfare problem. Protecting recovering populations from these threats supports both individual welfare and population-level conservation goals.