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Martens drive many a home or car owner to despair. About what appearance is typical for the animals and what features are characteristic of droppings and tracks, you can read in our article.

In a nutshell

  • large marten family with many different species
  • Stone and pine marten colloquially "actual" marten
  • both species about the size of a cat
  • elongated body with a pointed face
  • typically also the brownish fur with a white / yellowish throat

Big marten family

Colloquially, the term "marten" usually means the stone marten, which is the only representative of its numerous family, which is often up to mischief in gardens and houses and in winter also in cars. In fact, from a scientific point of view, the following species also belong to the martens:

  • fish and sea otters
  • Badger
  • Polecat
  • Mouse weasels and other weasels
  • ermine
  • mink

and a few others that are not native to us. The large marten family, which incidentally belongs to the dog-like predatory animals (Caniformia), is at home all over the world.

Beech marten (Martes foina)

The stone marten likes to live in attics, where it makes noise at night and eats insulation material. The species is also feared for its habit of biting brake hoses and cables in the engine compartment of parked cars. As an adaptable culture follower, this marten species is primarily at home in or near human settlements, but is also widespread in near-natural habitats. You will find the marten not only in gardens and in the house, but also in forests and farmland. The nocturnal loner preys on mice, birds and their eggs, insects and earthworms, but also likes to eat fruit in summer.

Typical Appearance:

  • about 40 to 50 centimeters long, about the size of a cat
  • elongated body
  • short legs
  • long bushy tail
  • pointed face
  • Brown fell
  • white throat
  • Weight between one and two kilograms

Pine Marten (Martes martes)

The pine marten, on the other hand, avoids human settlements and instead prefers to settle in larger forest areas with a wide range of tree cavities. But the animals can also be found in smaller forests and even in field woods, provided they find enough food and hiding places here. The pine marten is such a nimble and agile climber that it even catches squirrels, some of which are its main prey. The twilight and nocturnal hunter benefits from his excellent hearing and his fine sense of smell, when he surprises birds in their sleep or on the nest or tracks down rustling mice on the forest floor. Depending on availability, eggs, fruit and larger insects are also on the menu. This marten differs externally from the stone marten only by the yellowish colored throat.

Notice: If you find pungent droppings with undigested pits under the cherry tree in summer or autumn, then one of the two species of marten described has probably feasted on your cherries.

Differences to other martens

weasel

Martens are often confused with mouse weasels (Mustela nivalis), which are similar in color but are significantly smaller at around 11 to 22 centimeters in length. The mouse weasel is so small that it can easily follow voles in their tunnels. That is why it is also considered the smallest predator in the world. The following features also distinguish the mouse weasel from the common martens:

  • Weight only between 50 and 150 grams
  • not only the throat white, but also the underside of the abdomen
  • Back fur colored reddish-brown instead of brown
  • relatively short tail, no black tail tip (only in stoats)

ermine

The ermine (Mustela erminea) also belongs to the martens, but shows clear differences in appearance and behavior compared to the other species. For example, the ermine can also be observed during the day, and its fur is colored very differently in summer and winter. The color change to the white winter coat is temperature-controlled, so that the animal does not change color at all or only partially in warmer regions.
Typical appearance of the ermine:

  • Length 20 to 30 centimeters
  • about the size of a rat
  • Weight 100 to 350 grams
  • Summer coat: brown upper and white underside sharply demarcated
  • Winter fur: pure white
  • always black tail tip

Notice: The ferrets, which are often kept as pets, also belong to the martens and therefore look very similar to them. However, the species can be distinguished most clearly by the white-lined face of the ferret.

frequently asked Questions

Where do martens stay during the day?

All marten species, with the exception of the ermine, are active at dusk and at night. During the day, the house marten prefers to sleep in dark hiding places in the attic (e.g. in the wall cladding), in the garden shed or in a barn. But heaps of brushwood or dead wood and stacks of firewood as well as tree cavities are also popular as sleeping places.

How do you recognize marten droppings?

The distinctive-smelling marten droppings are always found in the same place because the animals build regular toilets. The droppings are oblong in shape, up to ten centimeters long and about one to two centimeters thick. The twisted and pointed end of the sausage is also typical. Undigested food residues such as hair, feathers or fruit stones are clearly visible in the faeces. Usually you only recognize the presence of a marten by its droppings.

How can marten tracks be distinguished from other tracks?

The tracks of a house marten are clearly distinguishable from, for example, cat or dog prints. The latter show only four toes, while martens leave five toe marks with clear claw marks - also in contrast to dogs and cats.

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Category:

Animals in the garden