Mortality and reproductive patterns of wild European polecats Mustela putorius in Denmark

摘要: Despite its relative abundance and wide geographical range, the population dynamics reproductive biology of European polecatMustela putorius Linnaeus, 1758 are largely unknown as to wild living. We therefore investigated age status 239 Danish polecats primarily killed in traffic or trapped during 1998–2004. Males comprised two third all individuals groups. Based on a static life table, apparent annual mortality was 68% first year life, 33% second 65% from both sexes. The mean (± SE) litter size 5.95 ± 0.62 (n = 18), estimated placental scar counts, significantly lower than sizes at birth reported for captive but consistent with Russia. Female yearlings conceived same rate produced litters older individuals.Males had spermatozoa their testes February through August. Testes mass peaked April May, ie period when most females conceive. A prevalence suggests that males postponed sexual maturity years age.