Nobody wants a marten in their car. Nevertheless, there is always damage caused by martens that get into the engine compartment and bite cables or hoses. This then leads to the fact that the engine does not start in the morning or it comes to problems with the performance.
But why do martens do that and which martens are they at all?? At least as important is the question of whether damage is insured if it occurs?
Marten damage in the statistics
Marten damage is distributed differently geographically. the reason for this is the different marten density in germany. more martens live in southern germany than in northern germany, so that the risk in the south is particularly high.
Urban areas with increased marten danger
From april to september Most marten damage is reported because martens are particularly active in late summer due to the mating season. In addition, martens are less active in winter than in 2014, about 207 marten attacks were recorded over the entire year.000 marten damages reported, whereby damage averages 304 euros COSTS. The number of damages has increased. At the beginning of the 70s, there were only isolated damage, with increasing number of cars, also increased the number of damage. Another reason for the increasing number of damages is that the population of pine martens, which were still very rare in Germany in the 1970s, has risen.
Generally, martens feel very comfortable in the vicinity of strewn gardens and green areas such as parks, so that there is also a danger with cars that are parked in the vicinity of such places. Likewise cars are particularly at risk if the owner is a commuter. The reason for this is that the marten reacts aggressively to foreign marten smells. In the case of commuters, the risk is particularly high that the car is parked in different marten territories and thus comes into contact with several martens, which therefore react aggressively and can cause damage to the engine compartment.
The following components are particularly frequently affected:
Which marten goes to cars?
Under the nickname car marten, the stone marten has achieved additional notoriety. It is a cultural follower and lives in the vicinity of humans. This way the animals got used to cars and in the course of time also got into them. The stone marten is the only marten that attacks cars. The other marten species in Germany are too shy for this and avoid cars.
Why do martens like engine rooms?
Martens climb through small openings into the engine compartment. Sometimes the animals climb around on the hood of the car and leave behind quite a bit of dirt excrement and urine traces. But the animals only cause damage in the engine compartment. They bite into hoses and cables, but contrary to assumptions to the contrary, martens do not eat the cables in the true sense of the word. They only bite at them, but they do not swallow the plastic. Nevertheless, martens are very curious and often nibble on the cables out of curiosity.
Another reason is that martens react aggressively to conspecifics of the same sex. Male martens in particular react very aggressively to the smell of a male of the same species. And the animals mark in their territory. In cars, this leads to a car that smells like a marten being driven into the territory of another marten. The marten of this area smells the fellow species and therefore enters the engine compartment.
There, however, he finds no conspecific to drive away. This leads to a real fit of rage, which then cables and hoses fall victim to. For this reason it is often said that only the second marten visit leads to a serious damage.
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Marten protection necessary? What does the insurance pay?
If you have marten damage, it’s annoying enough. Financially, the question arises whether the insurance pays and what conditions must be met for this. Because it is not easy to answer the question, whether an insurance pays. This depends on the circumstances.
marten damage is not covered by the car’s liability insurance. For this partial coverage insurance necessary. In this, however, often only the direct damages are covered. This means that the costs for the bitten cable are taken over, but not the costs for consequential damages.
Damage caused by martens is often difficult to prevent
If an accident occurs due to a bitten cable, the consequences of the accident are not covered. These costs are usually much higher. as well as the costs, if an engine damage is caused by a bitten cable. Consequential damage can also be covered by comprehensive insurance, up to a certain limit. This is often an engine change or a certain sum. If a deductible is agreed, it must be borne by the car owner himself. Due to these differences, a closer look into the policy is necessary and it is recommended to choose an insurance that also covers consequential damages.
Marten repellent manufacturer
The best measures for marten protection and marten defense
Considering the danger posed by a marten bite, you should equip your car with marten protection to limit the financial consequences as well as the dangers. There are several means of marten defense, both home remedies and professional devices in different price ranges. But what is a good marten protection for the car?
Mechanical marten protection for the car
The indisputably most effective method of protecting a car is the to make the access to the engine compartment impossible for the marten. this can be a garage, which is marten-proof or also a locking of the entrances at the car. If the marten cannot enter the engine compartment, then it cannot cause any damage there. Mostly the engine compartment is closed with a wire construction, but sometimes also with metal plates, which are cut to the openings.
If an engine compartment is sealed off, then the engine is protected from martens and this protection is therefore recommended whenever possible.
When closing the costs, which vary depending on the model, are a disadvantage. In addition, the not possible to close in all models. Some vehicles then get problems with the ventilation of the engine, so you would have to clarify individually whether a closure is possible on your model.
scaring away the marten
If the marten can not be locked out, usually remains just make the engine compartment as unpleasant as possible for the marten. This is also called scaring away the marten. Very well suitable for scaring away a marten are smells. The reason for this is that the marten has a very sensitive nose and reacts to foreign smells with distrust. Likewise, he reacts very suspiciously to odors that he associates with danger.
As home remedy therefore it is advised again and again dogs- or cat hair to put in the engine compartment. Both animals are a danger for the marten, so the marten avoids both of them. An engine compartment that smells like a dog or cat is therefore usually avoided. Likewise urine as a home remedy poured over the engine compartment help to drive away the marten. Both home remedies must be renewed regularly. A disadvantage is also that the marten can get used to the smell and with the time noticed that the smell does not mean that actually a dog and/or a cat sits in the engine compartment. The same applies to defense with urine. Therefore, home remedies are well worth a try and also positively very inexpensive. But the effectiveness is unfortunately very different, so one marten can be easily driven away with these means, others are not interested in it. The same applies to the defense with WC stones, which are also a popular home remedy against martens in the engine compartment, because the smell is unpleasant for the marten.
Likewise, however, there is also professional marten repellent sprays. These are aimed either at the sense of smell of the marten or partly also on the sense of taste. In both cases, the sprays are sprayed over the engine compartment, especially the cables and hoses. These smell then for the martens very unpleasant and the rubber smell, which martens seem to like, is covered. In the case of products that also target the gustatory nerve, the spray also tastes bitter or very sharp. So the marten, if he goes to the cable is very quickly deterred and will hardly dare another bite. the positive thing about the spray is that it is easy to apply, relatively inexpensive and much more effective than home remedies. If you decide to use the marten spray, you should also refresh it regularly, because the smell also fades over time.
Chasing away a marten with ultrasound
Ultrasonic defense of the marten works by the fact that the system emitting high frequency sounds. These people usually can not hear. Only very young people or people with very sensitive hearing can hear these sounds in part and feel disturbed by them. Even babies can partially perceive these sounds and be disturbed by them.
Martens have sensitive ears and depend on them when hunting. These high-pitched sounds are very penetrating and unpleasant for the marten. For this reason martens make a bow around such secured cars. But there are exceptions. A marten that smells a fellow marten can become so aggressive that it ignores the noise and enters the engine compartment anyway. However, the probability is much lower than in the case of an unsecured engine compartment. In addition to safety, this method does not hurt the animals and he can get out of the way before it becomes uncomfortable for him. That is why ultrasound is called particularly fair. The installation is relatively uncomplicated and the devices are considered durable. Another advantage is that the devices are compatible with many vehicle models, so finding a suitable model is easy.
marten protection by ultrasound with lightning
Ultrasound with lightning are systems for marten defense, which on the one hand with ultrasound and on the other hand with a bright flashing light drives away the marten. On the one hand, the marten finds the ultrasound itself very unpleasant and often avoids cars that are protected in this way. on the other hand there are martens, which are extremely resistant, so that ultrasound alone is not sufficient. Against these animals is the strobe light, which is triggered by a motion detector. A device that combines both has a much higher probability of keeping the marten away from the car.
A disadvantage is that both flash and ultrasound can irritate not only the marten, but also other animals, or in the case of ultrasound, people with sensitive hearing. An advantage is, besides the high effectiveness of the fact that the marten does not even enter the engine compartment and the defense also works against rats and mice that might approach the car. Another disadvantage is, that a power supply must be provided, this can be either an external battery or the car battery. The installation should be left to a professional if you are not sure that you are installing the device correctly. Otherwise it can come to malfunctions or even damage to your car.
The royal road: the combination of ultrasound with high voltage
you can also keep the marten away from the car with a combination of ultrasound and high voltage. In this case, the ultrasound is to prevent the marten from approaching the car at all. If the ultrasound does not work and the marten still goes to your car, it will be driven away by an electric shock. The system is also "willow fence principle" referred to as a "cattle fence" because it works like a cattle fence. When touched, the animal receives an electric shock, which is painful, but not dangerous for the animal. Such a contact at the entrance of the engine compartment and possibly there are others in the engine drive away the marten as a rule. So this method is considered the safest, just behind the complete sealing of the engine compartment.
advantages of this method are the security and also that most models now have a automatic shutdown when opening the engine compartment have installed. If you decide to use this method, you should choose such a model, because otherwise there is a risk that you or someone else who screws on the engine will get a shock. The maintenance of the devices is simple and it is durable.
Another disadvantage is that ultrasound is controversial because of its effect on dogs and cats. Pets can be spooked and equipment that does not automatically shut off when the engine is started and a pet is to be transported. Therefore, you should make sure that you choose a device that turns off when you start the engine.
