Formerly widespread but eliminated from the county during the 19th century. The last definite record was from Bradley in 1900 (see Moyes 1994 for a historical summary of the polecat in Derbyshire).

Polecats began to expand their range nationally from mid-Wales during the 1960s, spreading steadily into the Midlands. The first recent Derbyshire record was a road casualty at Church Broughton in June 1993 (Moyes 1994) and they have spread widely across the county since then. Early Peak District records came from Bamford (1994), Buxton and Tideswell (1998) and Hayfield (1999).

Over 40 records of ‘pure’ polecats have been received to date, reflecting both further colonisation and a greater intensity of reporting stimulated by national surveys organised by Vincent Wildlife Trust and the Mammal Society.

A number of hybrid polecat-ferrets have also been recorded during the same period. The majority of records are from the period 2003-2006 and relate to road casualties. Northern localities in the last 3 years include Longdendale, Dove Holes, Buxton, Wye Valley, and Calver. Recent records have come from a range of habitats including farmland, woodland edge, limestone dales and upland pasture. Formerly reported on high moorland areas, eg the Derwent Moors.

Further spread and increase of both pure polecats and polecat-ferrets are expected. The pattern of natural expansion may be partly obscured by possible releases of pure-bred polecats by ferret breeders (Moyes 1994).
[Old local names: foulmart, filimart].

More on the polecat in derbyshire, including a distribution map.

Species identification information

Distribution map