The polecat is the ancestor of the domestic ferret and has recolonised much of England and Wales following recovery from near-extinction through persecution, yet its welfare is threatened by second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides and road mortality.
Polecat welfare is affected by second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide accumulation from poisoned prey, which causes prolonged internal bleeding before death. This invisible poisoning pathway means polecats may appear healthy while suffering internally. Road mortality is increasing as populations expand into suburban areas where road density is higher. Snare bycatch in rabbit and fox snares continues to cause injury. The species welfare monitoring depends on carcass collection and post-mortem analysis programs.