The European Polecat (Mustela putorius) is a member of the Mustelidae family, and is related to the stoats, otters, weasels, and minks. They are dark brown with a lighter mask on the face. They are somewhat larger than weasels, weighing between 0.7 kg for females to 1.7 kg for males.

Polecats are mainly nocturnal. They are mainly found in woodlands, farmlands, and wetlands; they often make dens in stream banks or under tree roots. They feed largely on frogs and voles, but will also catch rats and other small prey. They require a home range of about a square kilometer.

Other species of polecat include the Steppe polecat (M. eversmanni) and the European mink (M. lutreola). The Berber polecat (M. putorius berberii) may well be the ancestor of the domestic ferret (M. putorius furo).

The word polecat is also used to refer to the skunks of the Americas which belong to the Mephitidae family