Martens have very fine noses, which is why they are particularly receptive to smells. This can be used to keep martens away from cars, attics and barns. Below you will find out which scents martens don't like and how you can use them effectively.
Which scents do martens not like?
Martens do not like smells from natural enemies such as dog, cat or fox urine as well as unpleasant scents such as citrus scents, essential oils, toilet balls, mothballs, cloves, vinegar, petroleum and diesel. These scents can be used to ward off martens.
Which smells do martens not like?
There are two types of smells that martens can't stand: some they are afraid of, others they simply don't like.
Smell of enemy
Martens have enemies. These include animals that are the same size or larger than them and have sharp teeth, such as cats, dogs, bears or foxes. These animals generally avoid martens, which is why their smell can be used to ward off martens, for example in the form of hair, feces or urine. For example, you can spread used cat litter in your attic, put your dog's waste in window openings (best with a bag for hygiene reasons) or spread hair in the engine compartment of your car. If you don't have a pet at hand, you can Buy fox urine from specialist retailers or online (€16.00 at Amazon) or special anti-marten sprays. Human urine is also said to have shown success.
Tip
Of course, a real pet looks even better than any dog or cat hair. However, the cat or dog should be of a good size, especially if a marten is present, so that they can emerge victorious in the event of a dispute. An aggressive marten can definitely kill a cat.
Unpleasant smells
In addition to the smells of danger, there are a number of other scents that martens don't like. These include fragrances that are very pleasant to us such as:
- Citrus scents
- essential oils (especially with citrus notes)
- Toilet balls
- Mothballs
- Carnations
and others we can't stand either:
- Vinegar
- Petroleum
- Diesel
You should definitely place highly flammable fragrances such as diesel or petroleum in safe containers and far away from any source of fire.
Using scents against martens sensibly
Scents disappear quickly, especially if they contain essential oils. Therefore, persistence is required when using scents to ward off martens: It is best to renew your scents every two to three days and combine different scents. Use the scents especially at entry points such as windows, gutters or gaps in walls.
Special case engine compartment
Fragrances can also help in the car, although their use here is limited because the substances evaporate when the car is moved. Did you know that martens usually only bite hoses if there was another marten in the car in front of them? Therefore, most damage is reported during mating season, when martens leave their territory to look for a partner. For this reason, it often helps to clean the engine compartment more often, especially at this time (June to August). In this way, scents from rivals are removed and if a marten decides to settle down here to sleep, it will not cause any damage.
Tip
For additional protection, prepare scented bags (made of fabric or plastic with holes) containing various scents that martens don't like. Place several of these bags in the engine compartment in the evening and remove them again in the morning. Replace the fragrances in the sachets at least once a week.
