Wild martens are hated and feared by humans and small animals alike. However, there are also people who keep martens as pets. The latter live significantly longer than martens in the wild. In addition, life expectancy depends on the species of marten. Find out below how old martens get.
How old do martens usually get?
Martens can live at different ages depending on the species and living conditions: stone martens live an average of 3-10 years in the wild, and up to 18 years as pets. Pine martens usually live for 10 years, with a maximum age of 16 years.
Factors for the age of a marten
How old martens get depends on both the species of marten and its living conditions. Martens are hunted for various reasons:
- Their fur is used to make clothing and accessories.
- In a household with cats, martens pose a danger to the cat.
- Martens like to nest in the attic or in the wall and cause damage to the insulation there.
- Martens nibble on cables in the car
These facts shorten their lifespan enormously on average.
Life expectancy of stone martens
Beech martens are, along with the pine marten, the most common species of marten found here. They are stone martens that get into the house, nibble on car cables and drive the chickens crazy, which is why they are also called house martens or car martens.
A beech marten in the wild liveson average 3 years old, the minimum age is 10 years. However, if the stone marten is kept as a pet, it canlive up to 18 years
How old do pine martens get?
Pine martens, also known as noble martens, are not hunted as pests because they stay away from humans and live in the forest. This is probably also the reason why their life expectancy is significantly higher:The animals live up to 10 years on average. The maximum age is 16 years.
The fur of pine martens is more beautiful than that of stone martens, which is why they are still hunted in some regions.
