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Marten

Marten Facts

Size 14-25 inches (36-65 cm) (body)
Speed 15-18 mph (25-30 km/h)
Weight 1-6.6 pounds (500 grams to 3 kg)
Lifespan 8-10 years
Diet Small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects
Predators Owls, foxes, eagles
Distribution Eurasia, North America, China, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia
Habitat Forest, bushland, rocky terrain
Order Carnivores
Suborder Canids
Family Martens
Scientific name Martes
Characteristics Small canine predators, some enjoy gnawing on wires and tubes

Main Characteristics

Martens are small, canine predators. When we talk about a marten, we typically refer to the American marten. In Europe the name stone marten strikes fear, because it loves to gnaw on wires and tubes in the engine area of a car. In this profile you will find out everything about its way of life. We'll also explain to you why the European marten loves car wires so much.

Stone Marten Stone Marten - Photo: zmachacek/stock.adobe.com

Species

The mustelidae family is large. It comprises 60 species, such as the badger, mink, polecat, stoat, wolverine, otter, weasel and ferret. Inside the mustelidae family there is the genus “marten”. It includes species such as the American marten, stone marten, European pine martens and yellow-throated marten.


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Distribution and Habitat

The American marten is native to North America. Stone martens and pine martens are widespread in Europe, Russia, the Caucasus and Asia. The yellow-throated marten lives in Asia and Siberia. Most marten species live primarily in forests, except for the stone marten, which prefers open areas with bushes and rocks, parks, barns, stables and attics. This is why it is also called house marten.

Life Style

Nocturnal or Diurnal

Most martens are nocturnal. During the day they hide in hollow tree trunks, rock crevices, piles of stones and abandoned nests from squirrels or birds of prey. The yellow-throated marten is an exception. It isn't active at night, but during the day.

Finding Food

Martens spend a lot of time roaming their habitat in search of food. They use their sharp claws to skillfully climb trees and jump from branch to branch to track down prey. The long tail helps them keep balance. However, they also often stay on the ground, because that's where they find most of their prey.

Marten Characteristics Marten Characteristics - Photo: WildMedia/stock.adobe.com

Anatomy and Appearance

Body

Martens are long and slender animals. Their arms and legs are short. On their paws there are sharp claws. Their long tail is bushy and resembles that of a squirrel.


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Size and Weight

Martens are about the size and weight of a cat. Their body length is 14-25 inches (36-65cm). The tail is 14.5-17.5 inches (12-45 cm) long. Their weight is 1 to 6.6 pounds (500 grams to 3 kg). The largest and heaviest is the yellow-throated marten with a body length of up to 25 inches (65 cm) and a weight of 6.6 pounds (3 kg). The smallest is the American marten at 14 inches (36 cm) and one pound (500 grams).

Fur

Martens have light brown to dark brown fur. They can be easily distinguished from each other by the markings on their throats.

• American Marten

The American marten is brown. Its head is gray. Legs and tail are dark brown to black. It has a white throat patch.

American Marten American Marten - Photo: Martin/stock.adobe.com

• Stone Marten

The stone marten has dark brown fur with white hair on the throat and on the front legs. The white patch resembles an upside-down fork, with the handle located on the throat and the tines extending down the legs.

Stone Marten Stone Marten - Photo: Bohuš Číčel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bcicel/) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

• European Pine Marten

The European pine marten is dark brown. Its throat patch is yellow. Unlike the stone marten, the patch doesn't resemble a fork.

European Pine Marten European Pine Marten - Photo: David/stock.adobe.com

• Yellow-Throated Marten

The yellow-throated marten is light brown. Head, legs and tail are dark brown to black.

Yellow-Throated Marten Yellow-Throated Marten - Photo: Thipwan/Shutterstock

Marten vs. Ferret – What's the Difference?

Ferrets, stoats, weasels, minks – they all look quite the same. Is it possible to tell them apart on a quick glance? This can be a challenge, but we gathered some characteristics that might help distinguish them from a marten:

  • Ferret: same size, dark guard hairs, light underfur, light face markings
  • Stoat: smaller, otherwise very similar
  • Weasel: smaller, otherwise very similar
  • Mink: smaller, solid black or brown, longer guard hairs, tail not so bushy

Marten vs. Ferret – What's the Difference? Marten vs. Ferret – What's the Difference? - Photo: David (marten)/stock.adobe.com, Alfredo Gutiérrez (ferreet) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Diet

Martens feed on small mammals such as voles, rats, shrews and squirrels. They also prey on small birds and their eggs, reptiles, frogs, snails, insects and berries.

Behavior

Social Behavior

Martens are solitary creatures. They mark their territory with feces and defend it against intruders.

Hibernation

Martens don't hibernate. They stay active during the winter. Check out our video to find out which animals hibernate.

Sounds

Martens can produce some really loud screams, almost like two cats having a fierce fight.

Are Martens Dangerous?

Occasionally, martens make their homes in attics, leading to the question: Are martens dangerous? Do they attack people? Martens usually avoid us humans. They only attack if you really threaten them. Martens typically steer clear of dogs and cats, but if they do end up in a fight, they can pass on the distemper virus.

Stone Marten Stone Marten - Photo: zmachacek/stock.adobe.com

Martens and Car Wires

Why Do Martens Gnaw on Car Wires and Tubes?

This behavior mainly has to do with its lifestyle and its social behavior. Martens don't like open, wide areas because they could easily be preyed on by birds of prey such as owls. They move from one shelter to another to stay safe from them. A shelter can also be the engine area of a car. Marten damage is mainly reported during mating season, when the males are particularly aggressive. If they smell the scent of a rival in “their” car, they become aggressive and defend their territory by biting and gnawing. To sum it up, damaged car wires and tubes mainly happen for these three reasons:

  • Martens like to hide (for example in the engine area)
  • Martens are curious
  • Martens mark their territory (biting attacks when there are smell of a rival)

Which Cables Do Martens Gnaw on?

They love to chew on soft plastics like spark plug wires and hoses for coolant and windshield washer fluid. To keep them out, some car owners install a grille under the engine area. This helps prevent them from getting into the engine area.

Which Marten Species Gnaws on Cables?

In most cases it is a stone marten that causes chewed wires and tubes. In Germany, it is also referred to as „car marten“.

Marten in the Garden

Martens aren't appreciated in the garden. They prey on songbirds and their eggs. They also leave carrion and feces behind. To keep them out, you can try and set up ultrasonic devices. They produce a sound that is barely audible to humans but very unpleasant for them.

European Pine Marten European Pine Marten - Photo: Imunoz/stock.adobe.com

Senses and Abilities

Climbing and Jumping

Martens are great climbers and jumpers. The European pine marten in particular, excels at navigating between trees, leaping up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) from one branch to another, much like a squirrel. It also has the ability to rotate its feet 180 degrees, which aids in climbing.

Life Expectancy

In the wild they live 8-10 years.

Enemies and Threats

Natural Predators

The natural enemies of martens are lynxes, eagles, hawks and other birds of prey. Young martens are sometimes preyed upon by foxes and cats.

Human Impact

Pine martens and stone martens are almost never seen in urban areas. Nevertheless, the greatest threat comes from human activities. They need old, slow-growing forests with great biodiversity. However, modern forestry mostly relies on fast-growing forests with only a few tree species.

Reproduction

Martens breed during the summer, and the fertilized egg stays in a sort of suspended state until it starts developing in the spring. The actual gestation period begins in March or April and lasts about a month. In April or June they give birth to 3-5 young. When the babies are born, they're blind and deaf. After 35-40 days they open their eyes and after 12-14 weeks they can feed on their own.

Fun Facts

Name

Marten is also a popular first name. However, it actually goes back to the god of war Mars.

The Marten Is Related To:

  • Fish Otter
  • Honey Badger
  • Mink
  • Polecat
  • Sea Otter
  • Silver Badger
  • Weasel
  • Wolverine

Animals in the Same Biome:


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