Martens can be found almost everywhere in the world. However, their habitats are quite different depending on the species: while otters stay in the water and pine martens in forests, weasels avoid dense forests and the water. Find out more about the habitats of the marten family and real martens below.
Pine martens live in forests and are difficult to spot
Habitat of real martens
The real martens include two species that occur here: the pine marten and the stone marten, also known as the house marten. The latter is the marten that keeps causing trouble in houses, cars or barns.
Habitat of stone martens
Beech martens live close to people, nesting on roofs, in walls or elsewhere in the house and often causing damage here. Their territories are 0.2 to 2 km2 extremely large. Within this area they have several hiding places, which they take turns visiting.
tips
It can therefore happen that a marten does not visit an attic for several weeks and the residents come to the conclusion that they have successfully driven it away. But martens usually come back.
Pine marten habitat
Pine martens, on the other hand, avoid humans. True to their name, they live near trees, i.e. in forests, preferably deciduous or mixed forests. Pine martens are quite rare because they are extremely shy.
Habitats of other martens
| marten species | other names | habitat | countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| otter | water marten | inland waters | Everywhere except Australia and a few islands |
| Badger | forests | Europe, North Africa, Asia | |
| Polecat | Open forests, steppes or grasslands | Temperate regions in Eurasia and North America | |
| mink | swamp otter | Overgrown shore zones of inland waters | In the past all of Europe, today mainly Eastern Europe |
| weasel | Small weasel, dwarf weasel | Pastures, meadows, light forests, agricultural areas, forest edges | North America, Eurasia |
| ermine | Short-tailed Weasel, Great Weasel | Meadows, hedges, gardens, woods, no dense forests, preferably near water | North America, Eurasia |