The Skunk and Polecat are wild mammals that are noted for their extremely bad smell. A Skunk is a large, gray-brown urban creature that was introduced into North America from Eurasia. The Polecat is an animal native to Europe and Asia. Both Skunk and Polecat are exceedingly in origin and physical appearance, yet they are exceptionally different.
Skunk vs Polecat
The main difference between Skunk and Polecat is that a Skunk is a small, squat animal that has a reputation for being aggressive and have been known to attack humans when threatened or in self-defense, whereas, Polecats, on the other hand, are much less aggressive and will only fight back if attacked.
A Skunk is a large, gray-brown urban creature that was introduced into North America from Eurasia along with its cousin, the raccoon. The Skunk is considered to be one of the most intelligent mammals. The Skunk is often best-known as an unclean animal that is found in narrow streets.
The polecat is an animal native to Europe and Asia, noted for its extremely bad smell. Moreover, they are often hunted for their rich fur, although it turns the hunter’s fur into a stench. Polecats live in woodlands and pastures and can be found in Europe and Asia.
Comparison Table Between Skunk and Polecat
| Parameters of Comparison | Skunk | Polecat |
| Definition | A Skunk is a small, squat animal with a black and white striped body that produces a foul-smelling odor from two anal glands when it is afraid or angry. | The Polecat is an animal native to Europe and Asia, noted for its extremely bad smell. |
| Origin | It was introduced into North America from Eurasia. | The Polecat is an animal native to Europe and Asia. |
| Physical Appearance | A Skunk is a small, squat animal with a black and white striped body. | Polecats are large animals with a mixture of brown and black colored striped bodies. |
| Habitat | Skunk are nocturnal animals, living in mountains, and woodland colonies of over 20 animals, by the same male. | Polecats live in woodlands and pastures where they make their dens in abandoned hollow trees. |
| Diet | The Skunk will eat insects, fruits, and vegetables such as grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars. | Polecat species will eat small prey such as mice, voles, shrews, and grubs. |
| Nature | They are aggressive. | They are much less aggressive. |
What is Skunk?
A Skunk is a large, gray-brown or with a black and white striped body urban creature that was introduced into North America from Eurasia. Moreover, it is considered to be one of the most intelligent mammals. They are nocturnal animals, living in colonies of over 20 animals by the same male. However, they can be found in groups of up to thirty individuals.
According to some belief, the Skunk is an unclean animal that is often found in narrow streets. Another common belief is that the Skunk’s stench causes cancer. The word “Skunk” derives from an Algonquian word meaning “person who scratches with his hand or claws.”
A Skunk is a small, squat animal with a black and white striped body that produces a foul-smelling odor from two anal glands when it is afraid or angry. As a result, Skunks have a reputation for being aggressive and have been known to attack humans when threatened or in self-defense. They can squirt a stinking liquid over a distance of up to ten feet when in danger while this liquid has a strong odor and it is not poisonous in itself and often evaporates within minutes.
What is Polecat?
A Polecat is an animal native to the Americas but resides primarily in Europe and Asia, while only one or more species lives in North America. Polecats are large animals that breed very slowly because they have long gestation periods. Polecats are mostly solitary, and some make their dens in abandoned hollow trees. However, they can be found in groups of up to twenty or more individuals.
The Polecats are large animals with a mixture of brown and black colored striped bodies. They have shorter legs than most wild cats, which are about 2–3 inches long. Their eyes are almond-shaped with round pupils and their noses, which serve as their senses of smell and taste, are small and pointed. The polecat has six toes on both of its feet. They have five toes on the hind feet while having four toes on the front paws; however, they can extend the claws when climbing.
Polecats are much less aggressive and will only fight back if attacked. They will defend their territories and fight for food and mating rights. Polecats are active during the night and hunt mainly at dusk or dawn. Some polecat species will eat small prey such as mice, voles, shrews, and grubs, as well as insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars.
Main Differences Between Skunk and Polecat
- A Skunk is a small, squat animal with a black and white striped body that produces a foul-smelling odor from two anal glands when it is afraid or angry, whereas the Polecat is an animal native to Europe and Asia noted for its extremely bad smell.
- A Skunk was introduced into North America from Eurasia, whereas the Polecat is an animal native to Europe and Asia.
- A Skunk is a small, squat animal with a black and white striped body, whereas the Polecat is a large animal with a mixture of brown and black colored striped bodies.
- Skunk are nocturnal animals, living in the mountains, and woodland colonies of over 20 animals, by the same male, whereas the Polecat lives in woodlands and pastures where they make their dens in abandoned hollow trees.
- The Skunk will eat insects, fruits, and vegetables such as grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars, whereas the Polecat species will eat small prey such as mice, voles, shrews, and grubs.
- The Skunk are aggressive and have been known to attack humans when threatened or in self-defense, whereas, Polecast are much less aggressive and will only fight back if attacked.
Conclusion
A Skunk is a small, squat animal with a black and white striped body that produces a foul-smelling odor from two anal glands when it is afraid or angry. There are 13 species of Skunk, all native to the Americas, ranging from Canada through Mexico and into Central America.
The Polecats are large animals that breed very slowly because they have long gestation periods. Moreover, the claws of the polecat are well-known to be not very sharp, but they do help the animal climb. The Polecats are historically ranged throughout Western Europe, and most of the Polecats live in woodlands and pastures and can be found in Europe and Asia.
References
- https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/sketch/vol22/iss1/8/
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/455860
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2550170/