Martens are not exactly popular with most homeowners and renters. Rats are even less popular. Now the question arises: do martens eat rats? Does the presence of a marten at least have a positive effect?
Rats are found food for martens
The diet of martens
Martens have sharp, pointed teeth that they use to bite into their prey's throat. However, they also eat fruit and nuts, which is why they are omnivores. However, mammals prefer meat. They especially like to eat:
- small mammals
- eggs
- Small birds
You can find out more about the diet of martens in our detailed article on the diet of martens.
Size difference between rat and marten
Like most animals, martens only eat animals that are smaller or at most the same size as them. Beech martens, the only species of marten that stays close to humans, have a head and trunk length of about 40 to 60 cm, with males being slightly larger than females. House rats, on the other hand, only grow to 17 to 22 cm (without the tail). Rats are therefore among the prey of martens.
Pets at risk?
Anyone who keeps mice, rats, rabbits or young cats or dogs as pets should protect them well if there is a marten in the roof or in the house. However, older dogs and cats can even have a repellent effect on martens. Read more about enemies of martens here.
get rid of marten
It's all well and good that martens eat rats and thus counteract a plague of rats, but martens also make noise and cause damage. Therefore, it is advisable to drive the pest out of the house. Various fragrances and household remedies can be used for this. You can find out how to successfully drive away a marten here.