Beech martens often cause devastating damage to homes, cars and stables. In the spring, the martens can often be heard particularly well, because that is when the offspring are born. Find out everything about the marten cubs below.

Young martens are nursed for two months

When are marten cubs born?

Marten mating season is in summer; it extends from June to August. Mating follows about seven months of germ dormancy, the so-called gestation period, during which the fertilized egg cell rests in the body of the mustelid female. The actual gestation period does not begin until January/February and lasts only a month.
Marten females then give birth to three to four young in March / April.

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Closed season for marten children

In order to protect young martens from starving to death, there is a closed season in almost all federal states from March to mid-October. This means that martens are not allowed to be hunted at this time. Sensitive penalties await the offenders if the closed season is violated.

Characteristics of the newborn marten

At birth, young martens are only 15 cm tall and weigh 30 g. They are initially completely blind and deaf. They only open their eyes after five weeks. They are suckled by their mother in the nest for two months.

The marten nest

In principle, the marten's nest looks like a bird's nest; often martens even use abandoned bird nests. The nests are made of branches, leaves and straw and are padded. In contrast to bird nests, no feathers are used for the upholstery, but hair or leaves.

The rearing of the young

At the age of six weeks, the young get their first teeth, and from the seventh week the mother marten begins to offer them solid food. From the ninth week, the mother begins to take turns hunting with one of her young to teach them how to hunt and find their way. The little martens only start to leave the nest from the age of four months. If you have a marten nest on the roof, you will notice its presence at the latest now, usually in June, July or August.

Martens are only completely independent from the age of six months!

Category:

Animals in the garden