The stone marten was almost extinct at the beginning of the 20th century. The reason for this was his beautiful fur, which was sought after for clothing. Martens are no longer hunted for their fur. But are they protected? Find out here whether martens are protected.
Are martens protected?
Martens are not protected in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, but are subject to hunting law. Martens may only be hunted, caught or killed by hunters and closed seasons must be observed. Pine martens are considered “endangered” on the Red List.
Are martens protected?
Martens are not protected under nature protection in Germany, Switzerland or Austria. However, that doesn't mean that you can hunt or even kill them at will. Martens are subject to hunting law and may only be hunted, caught or even killed by hunters.
Excursus
Pine marten endangered
In contrast to its relative the stone marten, pine martens are rarely seen close to humans. However, their fur is more beautiful than that of the destructive stone martens, which is why they were hunted for centuries. Although this practice is less common today, pine martens are listed as “endangered” on the nationwide red list. However, it is not protected and can be hunted by hunters from mid-October to the end of February.
Be sure to note the closed season
Marten cubs are dependent on their mother for several months, who initially feeds them and later introduces them to the environment. During this time it is absolutely forbidden - even for hunters - to hunt or even kill martens. Fines of up to €5,000 or even prison sentences await perpetrators who ignore the grace period.
Repel martens
But of course you don't have to live with a marten on your roof. Various scents can prevent martens from finding a hiding place and martens can be kept away, especially with grids and fences. You can find out more about home remedies for martens by following the link.
Animals under conservation
There are 478 vertebrates on the Red List of native animals threatened with extinction in Germany (list from 2009). There is no list of animals that are explicitly protected under nature protection. Here is a selection of the mammals native to Germany that are on the Red List:
- Brown Bear
- European Mink
- European hamster
- Hare
- Otter
- Hedgehog
- Lynx
- Wolf
Tip
When you think of martens, you probably have a stone or pine marten in mind, although polecats, stoats, badgers, weasels and other animals also belong to this family of dog-like predators. However, none of these animals are protected. An exception are the otter, which also belongs to the marten family, and the European mink, which have long been on the Red List of highly endangered animals.
