Martens in the house or roof? Drive out the rumbling marten house ghost reliably
Table of contents
How do I keep martens out of the house?
Marten bites: Better safe than sorry – Not every insurance company pays out for marten damage. Marten tracks on your car? Hurry up: If the stone marten has chosen your car as a hiding place, it can be dangerous when parking in unfamiliar areas. Conspecifics recognize the scent mark of the domestic species and immediately defend their territory.
Signs & hints
Young martens make themselves known in the spring by making hissing noises. At the latest, the rumbling of the parent animals or the smell of rotting carrion indicate a marten infestation in the roof truss. As they are nocturnal animals, the first visits are not immediately noticeable. Damaged pipes or insulation are not uncommon, which is why it is worth investing in preventative measures such as a marten repellent spray.
Why do martens go into the attic?
As a domestic marten, the stone marten with its climbing ability uses every loophole in the attic to expand its territory. The roof also provides the marten with ideal conditions for rearing its young.
The stone marten is not found in cars and attics because of the odors, as initially suspected. The pine marten also has no preference for car brands. However, the marten finds enough space in engine compartments as a retreat, to feed and to learn new things. The omnivore, which contrary to popular belief is not a rodent, also finds insulating material for nest building in the engine compartment.
The scent of the domestic marten makes the foreign marten aggressive. The stone marten has to defend its territory by browsing, especially during the mating season – it takes out its anger on cables and hoses in the engine compartment.
Getting rid of martens from the house
This is where STOP&GO marten repellent spray helps against odor-sensitive domestic martens. Alternatively, use our efficient ultrasonic marten repellent with alternating tones against the sensitive ears of stone martens!
Important: Use the marten repellent in the house at the first rumbling and before the young animals are born! Stone martens are protected by hunting law. If you drive away the parent animals during rearing, the young animals will die.
With ultrasonic marten repellent devices, it is also important to ensure that the ultrasonic waves do not penetrate any material. So if you have a very cluttered loft, it makes sense to install several devices or to treat several areas with the spray.
Can I catch martens?
No, catching, setting out or killing stone martens in live traps is subject to hunting laws in Germany. Do-it-yourself marten repellents are therefore often prohibited.
Martens may only be trapped or killed by landowners or others if they have the appropriate trapping license and/or authorization to kill vertebrates. So if you decide not to use the permitted marten repellent devices, you can fall back on local pest controllers who have the appropriate licenses and experience.
Are home remedies effective against martens?
The often-mentioned household remedies for controlling martens in the house and car, such as dog hair, urine or pepper, are not really helpful and do not have a lasting effect.
So what can I do? (Conclusion)
We recommend resorting to tried and tested defensive measures, such as
- Marten repellent spray
- Ultrasonic repeller
The repellents/devices are most effective if the entry point is known and they can be placed directly there. In the case of the anti-marten spray, therefore, place the scent reservoir directly at the entry point, and in the case of the ultrasonic device, point it at the entry point at a certain distance.