The ecological significance of resting sites and the seasonal habitat change in polecats (Mustela putorius)

Abstract

With 3 figures in the text)The daytime resting sites of 13 radio-tracked polecats (Mustelu putorius) were recorded in a mountainous and a lowland study area in Switzerland. Information on breeding sites was collected from questionnaires distributed throughout the country. At all resting sites, the polecats were completely invisible from more than a metre distant. During summer, when polecats mainly live in forests, individuals used many different hiding-places (e.g. small self-dug burrows, woodpiles, heaps of branches and dry leaves, dense vegetation). Such places were used for short periods, and then abandoned. Above ground, the polecats sometimes built nests of dry grass or moss. In winter, the polecats slept mainly inside barns, stables and other buildings. These resting sites were changed less frequently. In rainy weather throughout the year, subterranean places were preferred. Breeding polecats were often found inside houses, and obviously did not avoid human presence.The importance of different types of resting sites for polecats is discussed. In summer, the quality of a resting place is of less importance than its distance from the foraging area, but in winter, warm resting places are essential and buildings are therefore considered an important resourcc for polecats in Switzerland. The seasonal habitat change can more readily be explained as a consequence of thermoregulatory problems than of food availability. and the distribution of polecats in Switzerland may be affected by the availability of suitable winter resting places. The northern limit of polecat distribution and its historical changes can be explained by the changing availability of human buildings which provide winter resting sites.

Factors affecting selection of resting site type by pine marten in primeval deciduous forests (Bialowieza National Park, Poland)

“…Total heat loss increases approximately linearly as ambient temperature decreases (Thorkelson and Maxwell 1974). Ambient temperature was an often mentioned factor influencing resting or den site choice by different species (Waechter 1975, Weber 1985, 1989, Rabinowitz and Pelton 1986, Marchesi 1989, Taylor and Buskirk 1994. In this study, ambient temperatures were important between October and May.…”

Patterns of resting site use by pine marten Martes martes in Białowieża National Park (Poland)

“…It is difficult to explain why martens use a big number of different resting sites which at the same time are situated very close to one another. In polecat Mustela putorius it could be a result of nomadic behavior of this species (Weber 1989) but in my study area most martens were resident. Frequent changes of resting sites could be explained by defensive strategy against parasites.…”

Hybridization and the phylogenetic relationship between polecats and domestic ferrets in Britain

“…data;Blandford, 1987;Weber, 1989). Since domestic ferrets have been selectively bred in captivity for hundreds of years (MacKay, 1995), the resulting qualities of docility and tameness may limit the capacity of ferrets to survive and breed in the feral state (Poole, 1972).…”