Drive away martens: Tips against house and car martens

Drive away martens: Tips against house and car martens

Martens are a family of small predators that also include otters, weasels, badgers, minks, wolverines and polecats. There are two main species of martens in Germany, namely the stone marten and the pine marten. Stone martens are widespread and are considered pests because they kill chickens, ducks, pigeons and rabbits in stables and bite hoses and cables in cars. Pine martens, on the other hand, are more shy and live primarily in forests.

The real martens are nocturnal solitary animals that mark territory with smelly secretions. Stone martens prefer open areas and nest near people, while pine martens live in trees in forests and can jump up to four meters. The size of the territory varies depending on the species.

In terms of diet, martens are opportunistic predators that eat meat, small mammals, birds, eggs, berries, fruits and sometimes carrion. They can also cause damage and damage to cars by biting ignition, brake and electronic cables and hoses. Martens can transmit pathogens and parasites and leave feces and urine in the nests.

To drive away martens, disruptive noises, smells such as dog hair or toilet stones and special marten deterrent devices can be used. It's important to seal potential entrances and thoroughly clean the car's engine compartment to keep the animals away. In some cases, the help of hunters may also be required to catch martens.