Keep the marten away? With these tools it works!

Thomas Wachsmuth June 12, 2023 Tips, products, information & Co.

Reading time 4 Min.

Some home remedies to protect against martens effectively chase away the small rodents! They have a penchant for snagging the car's thin hoses with their sharp teeth. They move quickly and unnoticed in the dark, so you rarely see them. But there are simple home remedies that can effectively fend off martens before they cause damage to the car. And there are indications that the vehicle is infested with martens can. But not every damage to the car has to be attributed to the marten.

Indicators of marten damage:

Sounds and smells: Martens are nocturnal. So pay attention to unusual noises near the engine compartment. If the nighttime intruder stays with your vehicle for a longer period of time, there is a good chance that it will leave a strong odor behind. The smell of its excrement is strong: due to its omnivorous diet, the marten's excretions are particularly intense. It hunts small animals such as birds and other mammals, but it is also not averse to eating carrion, and fruits, berries and nuts are also part of its diet depending on the season.
excrement: Martens typically leave their feces at the crime scene. The sausage-shaped droppings contain remnants of its prey, such as hair, fruit, and feathers. The droppings are conspicuous, 1-2 cm in diameter and 8-10 cm long.
Scratches and Bite Marks: Another clear indication of a marten infestation are small but clear scratches and bite marks on the cables, seals and the rear of the car. In particular, rubbery parts such as ignition cables, insulating mats, various hoses and power cables are very popular with martens.

As nocturnal predators, martens look for warm and hidden places to sleep in the dark. An abandoned car offers ideal conditions for this. However, the damaged car parts can quickly lead to short circuits and potentially even fires.

Defense against martens: These home remedies help against unwanted intruders!

Now we come to solve the problem. The ingredients needed to keep martens off your car are inexpensive and easy to obtain.

Radio music and other disturbing noises: The furry troublemakers are very sensitive to noise, which is why they flee the area at loud sounds. Depending on what noise level is acceptable for the neighborhood, you can leave the radio on or play bass-heavy songs on a portable music player.
ultrasonic device: Anyone who happens to own an ultrasound device can also use this. The small device emits tones in the high frequency range, which are hardly perceptible to humans but very unpleasant for martens.
Peppermint oil: A small bottle of essential oil is inexpensive and enough for multiple uses. Dip a cloth or rag in the scented oil and place it in the engine compartment. Other intense scents such as lavender and citrus are also effective against martens as they have a "sensitive sense of smell" feature. The tires and the underbody can also be sprayed generously. Simply prepare a mixture of 100 ml water and about 10 drops of peppermint oil.
Cat and dog hair: Own hair from the brush should not simply be thrown away. Due to the fact that martens interpret the smell of dogs as a threat, dog hair can be used effectively as a natural marten defense. Distribute plenty of dog hair at entrances or in the car and replace it regularly. A combination of pet dander and cat urine can be an even more effective defense strategy.

The use of toilet blocks is controversial. The marten gets used to the smell and after a while is no longer bothered by it. Probably the most effective tip for keeping nocturnal martens away from the car is to park the car in a garage if possible and check the engine compartment regularly and clean it if necessary.

Of course, that wasn't the end of it!

tuningblog has countless other articles on the subject of car and auto tuning in stock. Do you want to see them all? Just click HERE and look around. In part, we would like to provide you with news but also off the tuning. In our category Tips, products, information & Co We have reviews of car or accessories manufacturers, new ones Tuning Wiki Terms or one or the other Leak veröffentlicht. Just click on one of the following posts!