It's hard to believe that such cute little animals can cause a lot of damage, which is why people often want to get rid of martens. As the days get cooler in late fall, many beech martens go into shelter to protect themselves from the cold. Unfortunately for many car and home owners, the predators like to get into the house or under the hood and find a cozy place to spend the winter. This means they stay warm, dry and there is often a generous supply of food in the immediate vicinity of the house. However, wild animals quickly cause major damage when they land in attics or cars. They erode the insulation, creating thermal bridges and the risk of mold, or they bite into cables. In addition, the nocturnal creatures make such a noise that they often rob the residents of their sleep. Fortunately, there are effective ways and steps you can take to ward off unwanted guests in a pet-friendly manner. Here are some practical tips and recommended actions to help you.
Prevent possible damage to property and drive away animals such as martens
Many people have to deal with the problem of a marten in order to prevent possible material damage. When it comes to martens, the best prevention is roof sealing. All windows and openings in the attic should be protected by a fairly dense mesh through which no predator can penetrate. It is also worth making it more difficult for martens to access the attic, for example by wrapping gutters with barbed wire. It is also important to think carefully about theChoice of roof insulation materialto think about. Expanded polystyrene and mineral wool are not a major obstacle for martens - they can easily create communication routes. A good option are PIR insulation panels, which are resistant to martens, but also mice, rats, moss and mold.
But what should you do if the marten is already living in your attic? There are several options, and one of them is to purchase a special soundproofing agent that emits unpleasant signals that only martens hear. You can also purchase an odor repellent, although domestic dogs and cats may be sensitive to this. Another effective method is to set up a live trap for martens. The animal enters it, whereupon the door slams shut and the marten cannot leave the cage without being injured. The best way to attract the animal is with a treat: a chicken egg or a sandwich with honey. After catching the predator, the trap should be taken far away from residential buildings and triggered there. So how can you tell that such an animal has made itself at home in your attic? Below you will find some useful information about this.
4 signs that a marten is sneaking into your house
As mentioned above, martens are nocturnal predators and drag killed prey to their hiding place in the attic, which can lead to unpleasant smells. They can also eat away at the insulation there. It is therefore important to regularly check the attic for traces of food. If a hole has been eaten into the roof insulation, you should replace it before mold spores form and cause further damage or health risks. Here are some signs you can look out for:
- Crawling noises:Martens are not permanent guests and come into their hiding place at night or in the morning to recover from an active night or to safely eat their prey at night. So if you're lying in bed at night and hear crab noises, there could be a marten hiding in the attic. Be particularly careful between April and September - the animals are particularly active at this time.
- Feces and paw prints:If you find traces of droppings or damp corners in the attic, you may suspect a marten infestation. In this way, the animals mark their territory and keep other members of their species away. In addition, small paw prints can be seen on the often dusty floor, which give away the unwanted tenant. Martens like to use roof insulation as nesting material and cause great damage here.
- Leftover food:Stone martens are predators and omnivores, with small mice, birds and organic waste from public trash cans high on their food list. Unlike many other animals, martens carry their prey to their hiding place. As a result, they further pollute the attic with carrion and leftover food. If you discover bones or feathers, as well as other food stored in your attic, you can be sure of a marten infestation.
- Holes in the roof insulation:The insulation material is a particularly popular nesting material, which is available to martens in large quantities and is easy for the agile acrobats to reach.
Recognize marten tracks in the snow
It is usually easy to recognize marten snow tracks. These are different from dog or cat tracks, and in snow that is at least a few inches deep, wildlife tends to use a 2x2 step. In this case, the rear track is placed over the front track to save energy. In shallower substrate, the marten often uses larger strides, in which the hind track on one side of the body is partially superimposed on the front track on the same side. In addition, martens walk when they move slowly to explore something interesting, and sometimes before scent marking.
When moving quickly, the martens make jumps that are similar to those of brown hares, with their two paws visible next to each other. In addition, you can distinguish their tracks from other pets. These usually have five impressions of their teeth, on which claws can also be seen. Their pads are crescent-shaped and look like sickles. If you measure the marten tracks in the snow, they are usually between 3.5 and 5 cm long and between 3 and 4 cm wide. Martens also sometimes tunnel into deep snow, whether in search of prey or on the way to a sleeping chamber.
How can you get rid of martens if they live in the attic?
In order to effectively drive away a marten, the first step is to determine how the animal got into the house. Here, previously undiscovered wall breakthroughs and ventilation slots or gutters come into question as access options. The stone martens are good climbers and can easily reach higher floors via attached garages or porches. The animal reaches openings of around five to six centimeters - usually where the marten's head fits through, the rest of the body comes in. It is best to combine several defensive measures: Seal obvious entrances and also use electronic aids to help keep your attic permanently free of martens. Here are some other effective defenses you could take:
- Loud music or knocking: Put a radio in the attic and consciously leave it on in the evenings. Loud noises and conversations scare the shy animal away, which in the best case scenario causes it to avoid the area. If you know where the marten is, just knocking loudly can help you.
- Rearranging and cleaning the atticwith harsh cleaning agents: If you don't want to use chemical cleaners, home remedies such as petrol-soaked rags and dog or cat hair, which irritate the stone marten's fine nose, are an attractive alternative. However, their effectiveness has not been proven.
- Effective electronic ultrasound devicesincrease the success rate of grunting: The devices produce changing frequency tones that are inaudible to humans and extremely unpleasant for martens. Set up the devices both at the nest and at the entrance holes to achieve the greatest possible success in marten defense.
- Marten trapssound convincing and animal-friendly at first, but they promise little success if you want to get rid of martens in the long term.
What helps against martens in the car?
Scratches on the insulation, tell-tale hairs or teeth marks on hoses and cables: all of this indicates an uninvited guest is visiting under the hood. If your vehicle is in the territory of a second wild animal of the same species, things get bad. Annoyed by the competitor's smell, the bandit begins to bite angrily. The small and pointed teeth can perforate water connections and electrical installation cables. Unnoticed, your car now needs a repair for a 4-figure amount.
So what can you do about martens in the car? Prevention is important so that the animals do not cause major damage. Anyone who trusts in the protective measures taken by car manufacturers will usually be disappointed. VW is one of the few brands thatProtect cars from martensand offer it for around 200 euros - the protection blocks the little robber's access to the engine compartment. Otherwise, you could try to take precautions yourself with the following home remedies and preventative measures:
- Dieregular engine washingcan eliminate the scent marks. This is particularly advisable for drivers who often park in different places at night.
- Wire mesh under the carcan also make access to the engine more difficult for the annoying creatures. However, this only works for a short time, and you have to drive away martens by always coming up with new tricks - for example with a broom under the vehicle, which also scares the robbers away.
- Dog and cat hairAccording to many car owners, they can also drive away martens and keep the pests away from the car.
- Ultrasound device under the hoodcan also be installed to be unpleasant for the small carnivore's hearing. Either batteries or the car battery are used to supply power. The advantage is that this solution is humane as it does not harm or cause pain to the animal. The problem: Over time, the squirrel can adapt to the noise or simply ignore it.
- Stromwould be a long-term solution. The pest penetrates between installed electrodes and receives a slight electric shock.
What you can do if you have a raccoon infestationfind out here.
