Martens: A marten in the house is usually not noticeable at first because the animals only become active at night. (Source: blickwinkel/imago-images-bilder)
If you hear loud rumbling noises coming from the attic in bed in the evening, and if you are disturbed by crawling noises of unknown origin, then there may be a marten in the house.Although they are wild animals, martens can be found in the middle of the city. The animals, which are almost the size of a cat, cause a lot of trouble here because they spread around the upper floors of the house and cause damage to the roof structure and insulation. But no matter how much the uninvited guests rage: the normal homeowner is not allowed to catch martens in traps or even kill them.
How does the marten get into the attic?
Stone martens can climb very well and jump over two meters. They use trees or the downpipes of rain gutters as climbing aids and thus climb the house wall. In some cases, the predators can even climb short distances up a rough-plastered house wall without any climbing aid at all in order to reach the roof and get inside the house. Openings of around seven to eight centimeters in diameter were sufficient. And if there is no gap, a marten can even push up a heavy roof tile in order to slip under it, according to experts.
Martens in the attic – what can you do?
Once the marten has settled down, it is difficult to get rid of it again. Stone martens are subject to hunting law in Germany, Nabu informs. You are only allowed to chase the animals with appropriate authorization. Live traps may also not be used – unless there is appropriate authorization.
“Some federal states have trapping regulations. Only those who have a ‘trapping pass’ are entitled to trapping,” says Nabu. In order to acquire such a permit, you must have completed a special training course on trapping.
Can you get rid of martens with home remedies?
The troubled homeowner has few alternatives to take action against the unwanted roommate. Nabu advises using so-called deterrents. Make your uninvited guest’s stay as unpleasant as possible so that at some point they will voluntarily leave.
For example, you can disturb his night’s sleep by playing the radio loudly during the day or knock specifically where the marten is hiding. Ultrasonic devices – so-called marten scarers – or bell alarm clocks are also said to have an effect.
You can also drive away the animals with unpleasant smells. Special anti-marten sprays and pastes are commercially available that emit appropriate fragrances and are intended to scare the marten away. Scented home remedies such as dog hair and animal urine are also often recommended. Nabu also recommends placing toilet scented stones in the infested attic. Another home remedy that you can use to get rid of martens is vinegar. Here, too, the marten is kept away by the pungent smell.
However, some experts doubt the effectiveness of common tips. Whether it’s dog hair or toilet stones, the effectiveness of none of the methods has really been proven 100%. Martens usually have several shelters within their territory. Even if a marten does not appear for a long time, it may only temporarily visit another of its numerous homes. As soon as he no longer has to worry about smells or noise in your attic, he would move back in.
Marten defense SOS – What to do if there are martens in the roof?
In the long term, martens can only be avoided in the house if the building is inaccessible to them. The intruder’s loophole must therefore be found and closed. This can sometimes be difficult and expensive. Therefore, first look for visible tracks yourself so that you can follow the animal’s path. This can be done, for example, by homeowners creating raked sand areas around the building on which the marten leaves its footprints. Scratches on gutters, facades or nearby trees can also provide clues. If you can’t find the hole yourself, get help from a roofer to look for clues on the roof.
Once the marten has settled down, it is difficult to get rid of it again. Stone martens are subject to hunting law in Germany, Nabu informs. You are only allowed to chase the animals with appropriate authorization. Live traps may also not be used – unless there is appropriate authorization.
“Some federal states have trapping regulations. Only those who have a ‘trapping pass’ are entitled to trapping,” says Nabu. In order to acquire such a permit, you must have completed a special training course on trapping.