Have you heard or read somewhere that martens fit through a hole with a diameter of only 2 cm? Are you worried that martens can easily get into your attic through every crack? Find out here how wide a hole has to be for a marten to fit through.
The skull of a marten determines where it fits through
Anatomy of Martens
Beech martens are mammals and as such have a solid skeleton. They have a head-body length of 40 to 60 cm and a total length (including tail) of up to 90 cm. The head is relatively small in proportion, the body narrow and stretched.
The shoulders are also relatively narrow. The skull is the widest part of the skeleton and is therefore decisive for where the marten can fit through.
Size differences in stone martens
The skull width varies depending on the age and sex of the marten. Females are slightly smaller than males and young martens are only 15cm tall at birth. The good news: The boys are only independent from the age of 5 months and by then they have already reached a decent size.
Skull size of martens
Marten skulls are about 10cm long and 4 to 5cm high and wide. Logical conclusion: A full-grown marten only fits through holes that have a hole diameter of at least 5 cm. A young marten that has just emerged from the nest may fit through holes about 3cm in size.
Which hole does a marten fit through?
The bad news is: martens have very sharp teeth and where there's a will there's a way. If the hole is too small for the marten, but the material can be chewed off - e.g. made of wood or soft rock, a marten will certainly manage to widen a 2cm small hole to the necessary size. Under certain circumstances, martens can also get through holes that are smaller than 5cm.
chicken wire and marten
A wire mesh (€14.99) with a hole width of 2 cm should prevent them from getting inside the house, because wire is also a challenge for the marten's teeth. It is important to attach the wire securely, because martens are very skilled and may bend it to suit their needs.