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Polecats are part of a wide range of weasel like animals including polecats, civets, skunks and ferrets. Skunks are referred to a Polecats in some areas (Old cowboy movies with Gabby Hayes "He's an ornery polecat")

Many animals in this family have anal glands that emits a foul smelling scent when threatened or attacked

In America or the U S, skunks are often referred to as polecats, and skunks really "smells like a polecat" is the term I grew up knowing, it's a real offensive odor. Skunks are no longer classified in the same family as weasels and ferrets.

Polecat in European countries refers to the European polecat (mustela putorius), which the ferret (mustela putorius furo) is domesticated from.

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16y ago

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