Martens are very shy animals that have adapted to a life in the dark. The climbing artists look for undisturbed hiding places and settle in the garden or even in the attic. The droppings are a clear indication of a marten territory.

Martens are rarely seen, their legacies rather

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. recognize marten droppings
  3. Is marten droppings dangerous?
  4. Marten droppings in the garden
  5. What to do if… ?
  6. Marten species in the garden
  7. cub found
  8. frequently asked Questions

    9. the essentials in brief

    • Marten droppings can be identified by their size, shape and consistency and can be distinguished from the droppings of cats, raccoons, hedgehogs or rats. The marten toilets are also typical.
    • The solutions can appear in the garden if it offers optimal living conditions. Houses and cars are not spared. However, marten droppings are considered harmless.
    • Beech and pine martens are native species. In order to protect pets, children or the car, hygienic aspects should be taken into account.
    • Orphaned cubs need help. Their droppings provide information about their health.

    What does marten droppings look like?

    Marten droppings are a good way to clearly identify the animal's legacies. If you are unsure who is responsible, photograph the faeces and compare them with the typical characteristics of different types of faeces. There are not many animals whose legacies resemble those of the marten.

    Tips for useful images:

    • scale: Ballpoint pen, ruler or lens cap are used for later size estimation
    • light: natural white balance and neutral daylight ensure true-to-nature coloring
    • details: Capture details such as consistency and toilet space

    Marten droppings - appearance

    Indigestible remains can be seen in marten droppings

    Martens leave behind sausage-shaped droppings that are about 1.5 centimeters thick and three to four centimeters long. The slightly spiral shape and the pointed ends are typical. Indigestible remains of its prey are often found in the feces. This can be fur, fruit pits or feathers. Marten excrement smells unpleasant and very intense.

    This is what the marten toilet looks like:

    • often only one toilet seat is used
    • older and younger traces of feces in one place
    • if this place is cleaned, martens look for a new place

    Marten droppings or cat droppings?

    The remains of the marten are very similar to cat droppings in various aspects. There are hardly any differences in appearance, size and color. The droppings of both animals give off an odor that is unpleasant for humans. However, martens and cats have different methods of defecating.

    cat marten
    color deep brown dark brown to black
    properties contains no indigestible residues often with remains of fur, seeds or feathers
    toilet place soft or sandy soil, feces are buried a chosen place

    Properties of hedgehog droppings

    Hedgehogs spread their droppings over a larger area. If foliage is present, they prefer to lay their piles in it. The sausages, which are about three to four centimeters long and one centimeter thick, are cylindrical in shape and pointed at the end. Hedgehog droppings appear black and are very shiny. You can often find food residue in the faeces. These are indigestible insect shells, seeds or feathers.

    How to recognize rat droppings

    Rat droppings are smaller and often darker than marten droppings

    Depending on the species, rat droppings can be between 1 and 30 centimeters long. In Germany you will mainly find brown rats and black rats. The black rat droppings are about one to two centimeters long and consist of narrow and elongated sausages that are slightly curved. When fresh, it is brown and shiny. Older legacies are dry and black in color. Rats don't use a fixed place to defecate. Therefore, their legacies are often spread over a large area.

    Legacies of the brown rat:

    • Heaps of droppings spread over the area
    • dark brown to black
    • two to three inches long

    What does raccoon poop look like?

    Raccoon droppings are easily confused with dog droppings. The piles consist of short and sausage-like pieces and give off a pungent odour. The feces often contain residues such as hair from mice or other mammals. The excrement is preferably deposited in raised depressions, because raccoons are considered to be extremely clean.

    Is marten droppings dangerous?

    Basically, marten droppings are not dangerous. The droppings contain various germs and bacteria that are found in all types of feces and can be harmful to your health. If the animal is sick, contact with it can certainly lead to infection.

    Toxoplasmosis from marten droppings?

    Toxoplasmosis is primarily transmitted through cat feces

    There is no evidence that martens can transmit toxoplasmosis to humans through their droppings. The main host responsible for the infectious disease is the cat. This excretes the pathogen with the faeces, which multiplies in various intermediate hosts and triggers various symptoms. Vertebrates such as birds or rodents can be used as intermediate hosts.

    background

    What is toxoplasmosis?

    Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It occurs in intermediate hosts through smear infections with cat faeces, which can result from gardening or eating unwashed vegetables. Meat can also be a source of infection if the animals for slaughter eat food contaminated with cat faeces. About half of the population in Germany goes through toxoplasmosis in their lifetime. In healthy children and adults, the disease has no symptoms and heals on its own.

    Hantavirus through marten droppings?

    Hantaviruses are distributed worldwide. In Germany, the pathogens are transmitted to humans through the faeces of infected rodents such as mice and rats. Bank vole and band vole are among the main hosts. The viruses can be ingested through the dust of dried faeces. Martens are not typical hantavirus hosts, which is why their droppings are not a source of infection.

    worm diseases

    Martens can be hosts for various worm parasites. The parasites found so far in stone martens belong to the genus Capillaria. These hairworms infest the internal organs of the main host. So far there is no evidence that fox tapeworms can be transmitted via marten droppings.

    Marten droppings in the garden

    Finding marten droppings on your doorstep or on your lawn is an uncomfortable and frightening experience for many people. Droppings on the patio or balcony is a sure sign that a marten has settled in the area. If its territory is indoors, noise pollution can occur, especially at night.

    Typical marten:

    • lives near bodies of water
    • goes into hiding during the day
    • becomes active at night and moves along the ground in search of food
    • can climb well
    • does not dig any burrows itself, but uses existing hiding places and buildings

    marten droppings in the house

    It is not uncommon to find remains of the marten in the attic. Animal populations are particularly high in rural areas. In buildings used for agriculture and in dark attics, they find optimal opportunities to give birth to their offspring in a protected manner. After birth, they are cared for by their mother until they are expelled from their own territory in autumn. The young martens roam around and try to settle in the neighboring buildings.

    youtube

    Marten in the car

    Beech martens are not after cables, insulation material and hoses in the car. They are not, as is often assumed, attracted by the residual heat of the engine. Rather, the animals try to defend their territory. If a marten perceives scent markings or the smell of feces from a conspecific that are in the engine compartment or under the car, it becomes aggressive.

    Only the second marten, who has noticed the smell of the rival who appeared first, damages the car as an expression of defending the territory. He chews through the marked car parts and increasingly deposits faeces there. This behavior can be observed more frequently during the mating season.

    Engine compartment means living space:

    • ideal hiding place to relax
    • retreat from enemies
    • pantry for leftovers

    What to do if… ?

    Marten droppings can appear anywhere in the garden, because the stone marten is considered a cultural successor and inhabits habitats close to humans. This behavior is not always met with goodwill. In most cases, there is no need to worry as the mammalian droppings rarely cause any problems.

    Marten droppings are annoying but in most cases no more dangerous than the remains of other mammals.

    Marten defecated on the car

    While the droppings are still fresh, you can remove them with a spray bottle. Hardened droppings can be softened with a mixture of water and a little vinegar and gently scraped off with a blunt object.

    If the droppings have burned into the paintwork, polishing and subsequent sealing will help. A thorough cleaning of the car is necessary so that the marten does not mark its territory again. Devices made of wood and close-meshed wire around the car ensure that the marten cannot get onto the roof.

    Pitting damage in the engine compartment

    Cars offer martens an ideal retreat and food!

    It doesn't help much if you move the car marked by scent trails to another place. This will attract more martens that are territorial in that area and risk damage. Give your car a thorough cleaning so that all traces of scent from the engine compartment are eliminated. Parking areas or garages should also be cleaned thoroughly.

    Protection against martens:

    • Install electronic marten defense in the engine compartment
    • After parking, push the wooden frame with close-meshed wire mesh under the engine compartment
    • After cleaning, regularly spray the engine compartment with marten repellent spray

    Baby ate marten droppings

    In most cases, you don't need to worry if your child has eaten marten droppings. This is considered harmless. Because of the germs that are in the marten droppings, the baby can get diarrhea. In the worst case, your offspring will be affected by a worm infection, which is why you should keep an eye on the child's stool. However, the risk of infection from swallowing small amounts of feces is extremely low.

    Dog eats marten droppings

    Eating feces is typical for many dogs and indicates a disturbed intestinal flora. The dog notices early on that the microflora in the intestine is no longer in balance. By eating other animals' droppings, it trains its intestinal defense systems. It absorbs pathogens and worms, so the immune system has to become active. If your dog eats marten droppings, it can get diarrhea or nausea and become infected with worms. To stop poop eating, you need to identify possible triggers for this behavior:

    • disease of the pancreas
    • heavy worm infestation
    • Eating feces in an attempt to gain attention

    Which martens live in the garden?

    Beech martens often live close to humans

    The stone marten is one of the real martens. This genus contains seven species distributed in Eurasia and North America. Martens prefer habitats near the forest, with the stone marten being the exception and classified as a cultural successor. Two species occur in Germany.

    stone marten pine marten
    habitat open terrain with bushes and trees, likes to be close to people Deciduous and mixed forests, occasionally large parks
    way of life mostly bottom dwellers mostly tree dwellers
    identifying feature white throat patch, often forked yellowish-brown throat patch, rounded down

    cub found

    Up to an age of seven weeks, young animals of different species look confusingly similar. The typical identifying features only develop with increasing age. Identify the species and assess health status before attempting relief efforts. Healthy infants have sun-yellow, globular stools.

    Possible signs of illness:

    • dark discoloration in the faeces
    • liquid or mushy consistency
    • heavily watery feces
    • brown to almost black diarrhea

    tips

    Normally you don't see marten children. If they are outside their nest, this can be an indication of orphaned young animals.

    Distinguish the stone marten from the fox

    Martens have gray fur - often with white spots on the neck

    Foxes have a larger head and smaller ears in relation to the body than martens. Their forehead is clearly separated from the nose, while the marten is characterized by a smooth transition from nose to forehead. Foxes are born very hairy and have a white tip. Martens are climbers and have sharp claws that allow them to cling to bark. Foxes weren't made for climbing, and they don't have climbing feet.

    Spot martens and squirrels

    Although these animals are not closely related, they can be confused at a very young age. Both juveniles have a white bib that is colored more or less white. The main difference is the leg length. With their long legs, squirrels are reminiscent of small kangaroos. The reddish or black coat color of the squirrel shows up very early. Their droppings are firm and dark brown to black.

    Differences between stone and pine marten

    The juveniles of both species are difficult to distinguish for the layperson. Pay attention to the habitat in which you find the young animal. Pine martens avoid human habitation. If you discover a nest in the attic or in the garden shed (€24.90), it is most likely a beech marten.

    Suitable nest sites for martens:

    • abandoned bird nests
    • quiet and sheltered places
    • Holes in old tree stumps

    Young pine martens can be recognized by their chocolate noses. Beech martens have a lighter nose. The soles of her feet become hairless. The bodies of the stone marten are slightly shorter and heavier than those of the pine marten. This feature is only recognizable in direct comparison and can be indistinct in the youth stage.

    tips

    You can contact the marten aid network to determine if you are unsure.

    First aid

    Marten babies should not be fed with cow's milk

    Babies depend on the protection of their mother and should not be taken in carelessly. If it is clear that the animal needs help, you should warm it and protect it from drying out. Handle the cub carefully, as moving to a new environment is stressful. Sharp temperature changes cause circulatory problems, which is why you should put the baby in a box lined with towels in a warm room. Later, you can place a wrapped hot water bottle under the animal.

    Emergency prescription:

    • Brew a tea bag each of chamomile and fennel
    • Because of the suspended matter, prepare a second infusion and let it steep for three minutes
    • Sweeten 100 ml of tea with half a teaspoon of organic beekeeping honey
    • give body-warm tea in two to three meals

    After the young animal has received enough liquid, it must be supplied with a special rearing milk. Cow's milk or milk for cats is not suitable for feeding marten babies. It leads to diarrhea and in the worst case to death. Martens can quickly imprint themselves on humans, which is why tact is required. Find a wildlife sanctuary in the next 24 hours. You can also contact NABU to find addresses near you.

    frequently asked Questions

    Do Martens Attack Humans?

    Martens are shy animals that avoid being close to humans. If they have to defend their offspring or are cornered, an attack can occur. They have extremely sharp teeth and can bite hard. A marten bite can be painful and bleed.

    What does the droppings of healthy martens look like?

    Young animals leave sun-yellow and misshapen globules in the first few weeks in which they are suckled with milk. The faeces turn brown and take on a formed consistency when the animals are given solid food. Adult animals are considered omnivores. Indigestible remains such as feathers, bones or seeds can often be seen in their droppings. The sausages are spiral-shaped and pointed at the ends. A fixed toilet place is typical for martens.

    Why do martens leave traces of faeces and urine?

    The animals are territorial and occupy a fixed territory. To protect this against rivals, martens mark their territory. To do this, they use a secretion produced by the anal glands.If a competitor invades their own territory, the martens notice this offense because of the unknown scent marks. They begin to leave more feces and urine in these places. As a result, you may find traces of feces and urine in the engine compartment or under the car.

    Why is there more car damage from martens in spring and autumn?

    The mating season of the martens extends over the spring. During this time there are more fights between the males willing to mate. If an animal finds traces of a competitor in its own territory, it tries to remove and cover the scent traces. Ignition and ABS cables or cooling water and brake hoses are often damaged. This damage also occurs more frequently in autumn, because then the young animals born in the spring are looking for their own territory.

Category:

Animals in the garden