Polecats have recovered from near-extinction in the UK following the end of widespread persecution, and their welfare benefit from habitat availability and reduced gamekeeping pressure is measurable.
Polecat range recovery represents a welfare success story - a species once persecuted to near-extinction in England is now widespread through most of the country. Individual polecats in recovered populations can live full lives in appropriate habitat. Road mortality as populations expand into new areas remains a welfare concern requiring road design solutions similar to those developed for otters.