Best Marten Repellent - Check How to Keep Martens Away
The marten is a small, cute-looking animal. Unfortunately, this mammal can cause a lot of damage. If it appears as an unwanted guest in the attic, not only it defiles the space with its droppings, but might also destroy the insulation of the building. What's more, it can also be very noisy. Martens are becoming known for getting under car hoods, where they pose a threat to e.g., cables. Check how to repel this pest. Learn the most effective methods for keeping martens away.
Are martens dangerous animals?
Martens are animals classified as weasel-like. They are quite large, as adult animals are 45-50 cm (17-20 in) long, and there’s also the tail. These mammals are agile, and interestingly enough, they can make very long jumps – even several meters long. They have sharp claws and teeth.
Many people wonder whether a marten is dangerous. They avoid contact with humans and are easy to scare. But note that if they feel threatened, they might attack. You risk getting scratched, or worse – bitten. Make sure to be extra careful upon meeting these animals.
What damage can martens cause?
Martens are predators that might cause a lot of damage. In summer, they might steal fruits and vegetables from home yards. They love cherries, apples, plums, and pears. In winter, when such crops are not available, martens can steal eggs from chicken coops, or attack chickens and ducks.
If a marten gets into a house, it usually nests in the attic. In such a case, expect a big mess. These animals leave their droppings, which not only smell, but also are a source of dangerous bacteria. They pose the biggest threat to small children and pregnant women. Martens in the attic might get interested in the building’s insulation, and destroy it.
As it turns out, martens attack not only farms and houses. They might get under a car hood, especially when the temperatures outside drop. In such a case, they bite into the cables and destroy certain parts of the vehicle, e.g., engine soundproofing.
How to recognize that there have been a marten in a car or house?
Recognizing a marten’s presence in a car might be very easy. Typically, the car simply won’t start, as the animal has damaged its parts. The damage can also be seen after lifting the hood, where you may notice bite marks left by the pest.
The pest nesting in your house might be longer to determine, although it’s not a rule. Noise in the evening or at night might be the first sign you have an unwanted guest in your attic. It sounds like someone running around. Martens sometimes make characteristic squeaking noises as well.
Those who haven’t realized they have the pest under their roofs in time, might expect an unpleasant smell. It accumulates because of the animal’s droppings, as well as food scraps or remains of other animals the predator carried to the attic.
How to keep martens away from your garden?
If you want to protect your garden from martens, use the simplest and most effective methods. One of them involves planting special plants in the yard.
Plectranthus is the best floral marten repellent. This plant smells very much like oregano, although it looks quite different. Its leaves are silvery, and the flowers are purple. Though it’s not the appearance, but the mentioned fragrance that repels martens from the garden.
Are you wondering where to plant the plectranthus? The vicinity of the chicken coop is a good option. You can also plant some seedlings next to fruit trees and shrubs. Planting them around the entire property is a good option as well.
Another method involves using a special marten repellent producing unpleasant sounds to these animals. Interestingly enough, such devices are unnoticeable for humans, so you don’t have to worry about the noise. They are small and fairly cheap – everything depends on the model and its range. Additionally, it might also be a good solution against moles.
How to prevent car damage caused by martens?
As for vehicles, the options are limited when it comes to marten car protection. How to prevent them from damaging your car? First, you can use certain scented liquids that discourage martens from nesting in the vehicle. You can purchase them in stores with household chemicals or similar products. Interestingly enough, scented repellents work not only against martens, but also other wild animals.
Do you want to act quickly, but have no time for shopping? You can try a home-made marten repellent. Toilet cleaning tablets left under the hood might work. When using them, make sure to always unwrap and install them while wearing gloves. Martens are clever, so if you leave a human scent on the tablet, they might feel more confident – and it won’t be a barrier for them anymore.
How to get rid of martens in the attic?
Using the already mentioned scented products is one of the ways to keep martens away from the attic – but they are not always effective, as houses are full of many human scents. In this case, live traps are the best solution. It’s a humane way to catch the pest and release it back into the wild.
Just put a tasty treat in the trap – for instance, an apple. You can be sure the animal won’t be able to resist it.
If you manage to catch the animal, the next step is improving your house’s security. Check the attic’s sealing. Also, spray the air holes with anti-pest fragrances, or install nets in them. By using several methods, you will surely solve the problem.
đź“Ť What scents repel martens?
Martens are quite skittish animals, so they are repelled e.g., by dog smells. Thanks to this, you can use dog fur to protect spaces from these pests. Some plants, broken eggs and disinfectants might also scare these animals off. Toilet tablets sometimes work as well.
đź“Ť How to protect your house from martens?
To protect your house from martens, make sure the attic is properly sealed. If the animals manage to get inside regardless, consider using scented products and live traps. Combining several methods should work well against these predators.
đź“Ť Why should you protect your car from martens?
Martens pose a threat not only to poultry, but also to vehicles. They bite into cables, as they use them for making nests. The damage they make might lead to serious car breakdowns, and create a dangerous situation.
đź“Ť How to recognize a marten in the attic?
Sounds as if someone was running around the attic indicate that a marten might be living in there. Martens also make characteristic squeaks. If you have several unwanted guests under your roof, you might also smell an unpleasant scent – which is difficult to get rid of.
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