Do you hear noises coming from the basement at night? Maybe a marten has settled there? Find out here whether martens also nest in cellars and who else could be behind it.
Are there martens in the basement?
Martens prefer higher areas such as attics, walls or engines and rarely nest in basements. If they appear there, they are most likely using the basement as a temporary residence or passageway.
Are martens hiding in the basement?
The good news: martens tend to like cellars less. The noisy animals prefer higher levels. Martens are mainly found here:
- in the attic
- in walls
- in false ceilings
- in barns
- in car engines
So having a marten in your basement is rather unlikely. If so, he will use it more as a temporary residence or as a passage.
Who's up to mischief in the basement?
To find out who is in your basement, you should investigate:
- Are there scratch marks at possible entrances? What size are they?
- Was poop left behind? Here you will get to know the marten droppings.
- Was a nest built? What size is it?
Possible guests in your basement are:
| Guest | Nest building | Scratch marks | Feces | noise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marten | Yes, from March to July for the offspring | Yes | approx. 4cm long, with leftover food | Yes, especially at night |
| House Mouse | Yes, at any time for the offspring | No, gnawing marks to penetrate | dark, approx. 1cm | Little, not at all in winter |
| Rat | Yes, at any time for the offspring | More like gnaw marks | approx. 2cm, slightly curved | Yes, mostly at night |
| Raccoon | Very unlikely | Yes | builds latrines, approx. 4cm long, smells bad, not very strong | Yes, at night |
| Cat | No | No | very similar to marten droppings but without food residue | Little |
| Hedgehog | Yes, made from leaves and natural materials for wintering | No | approx. 4cm long, shiny black, insect remains visible | No |
Drive animals out of the cellar
In order to drive away or keep martens or other uninvited guests out of the cellar, you should first find out who is staying there. You shouldn't drive away a hedgehog in winter; if you have a mouse, you can also consider whether you should allow it to stay in your basement to overwinter. In the case of a marten or a neighbor's cat, you should first look for possible entrances and block them. To get a marten, cat or raccoon to turn back, you can also use home remedies such as essential oils (citrus scents!), animal hair from enemies or ultrasound devices.
