Steppe Polecat

About this species

Diet

Mainly ground squirrels and other rodents; also pikas, birds, eggs, reptiles, and insects

Habitat

Open steppe and agricultural landscapes

Range

Central and eastern Europe through Central Asia to Mongolia and northern China

Litter size

Usually 3–6

The steppe polecat, also called the white or masked polecat, is a pale mustelid with a yellowish body, dark legs, dark belly, and a contrasting dark mask across the face. It is larger and more powerfully built in the skull than the European polecat, reflecting its specialisation for taking comparatively large rodents. The pale body and blackish extremities create a much stronger contrast than in most weasels. Its native range extends from Central and eastern Europe through Central Asia to Mongolia, northern China, and the Russian Far East. (Wikipedia, general species account; Plazi TreatmentBank)

Open steppe and agricultural country are characteristic habitats. The species is nomadic rather than strongly territorial, often remaining only until local prey is depleted. Ground squirrels are principal prey, with voles, hamsters, marmots, pikas, birds, eggs, reptiles, and insects also recorded. Polecats usually enlarge burrows made by rodents rather than excavating complete dens themselves. Mating occurs from March to May and litters most often contain three to six kits. A Mongolian biological study exists, and a separate archaeological source places the species in Arkhangai Province, but no dependable public viewing site was identified. (Wikipedia species account; Plazi TreatmentBank; Broderick 2010)

Description: Wildlife of Mongolia guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)