Hybridisation and competition with the European Polecat European mink

in 20th century, northern europe underwent warm climatic period coincided expansion of range of european polecat. european mink possibly gradually absorbed polecat due hybridisation. also, competition polecat has increased, due landscape change favouring polecat. there 1 record of polecat attacking mink , dragging burrow.

polecat-mink hybrids termed khor -tumak furriers , khonorik fanciers. such hybridisation rare in wild, , typically occurs european minks declining. polecat-mink hybrid has poorly defined facial mask, yellow fur on ears, grey-yellow underfur , long, dark brown guard hairs. large, males attain peak sizes known european polecats (weighing 1,120–1,746 g (2.469–3.849 lb) , measuring 41–47 cm (16–19 in) in length), , females larger female european minks (weighing 742 g (1.636 lb) , measuring 37 cm (15 in) in length). majority of polecat-mink hybrids have skulls bearing greater similarities of polecats minks. hybrids can swim minks , burrow food polecats. difficult tame , breed, males sterile, though females fertile. first captive polecat-mink hybrid created in 1978 soviet zoologist dr. dmitry ternovsky of novosibirsk. bred fur (which more valuable of either parent species), breeding of these hybrids declined european mink populations decreased. studies on behavioural ecology of free-ranging polecat-mink hybrids in upper reaches of lovat river indicate hybrids stray aquatic habitats more readily pure minks, , tolerate both parent species entering territories, though hybrid s larger size (especially male s) may deter intrusion. during summer period, diet of wild polecat-mink hybrids more similar of mink polecat, feed predominantly on frogs. during winter, diets overlap more of polecats, , eat larger proportion of rodents in summer, though still rely heavily on frogs , scavenge ungulate carcasses polecat does.