Martens make a lot of noise. Without question, nobody likes having a marten living in the attic or in the house. But does the marten also pose a health hazard in addition to the noise? Find out here whether martens transmit diseases.
A disease transmission by a marten is very unlikely
martens and diseases
Like every animal on earth, martens can also carry and transmit pathogens such as viruses or bacteria and parasites. The University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover conducted a small study in 2016 to check the health of foxes, martens and raccoon dogs.
The scientists could no diseases of the following dreaded diseases:
- rabies
- distemper
- Aujezky virus (pseudo-rabies)
- mange
In individual cases, it is of course still possible that martens carry these pathogens, but the probability is low.
tips
If a marten is very trusting and shows no shyness, there is reason to be cautious - loss of shyness is number 1 indication of rabies.
parasites in martens
However, the scientists of the said study found endoparasites of the relatively harmless genus Capillaria in beech martens no zoonotic parasites, i.e. those that can be transmitted from animals to humans. However, such parasites have been increasingly found in foxes. Martens can thus transmit parasites to other animals such as cats, but it is unlikely that humans will be endangered.
Is marten droppings dangerous?
Marten droppings are largely considered harmless. If the animal is sick, the droppings can of course contain bacteria or viruses that can be transmitted to humans. Therefore, gloves and a face mask should be worn when removing marten droppings. There is no known risk of toxoplasmosis transmission.
Conclusion
A marten in the garden, in the house or in the attic is no more dangerous than a cat in the household. Like any animal, a marten can be sick and possibly transmit its pathogens to humans and other pets, but there is no increased risk. Serious diseases such as rabies or mange are hardly to be expected.