Ecology of the polecat (Mustela putorius L.) in Luxembourg

Project leader: Adil Baghli (Department of Anthropology/Human biology), Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg (e-mail).
Collaborators: Edmée Engel (Department of Anthropology/Human biology), Museum of Natural History Luxembourg (e-mail), Dr. Ron Verhagen, Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Antwerp (e-mail), Direction des Eaux et Forêts, Luxembourg.

The polecat (Mustela putorius) is a native mustelid in Luxembourg. He is considered to be a vulnerable species at the European scale. As its ecology is poorly known, there is much speculation and little evidence for the reasons for its decline. Its uncertain status, combined with evidence of recent declines in some countries, is a cause for concern.

In order to understand the polecat’s current habitat and the factors which might influence its distribution in the future, we aim to study some aspects of the ecology of this mustelid: home range, space use, patterns of activity and movement and the use of resting sites. This study attempts to assess some biological (diet) and behavioral parameters of polecats in Luxembourg: effect of habitat on movement and home range size. Ecological significance of the resting sites occupied will also be studied.

Work plan