Marten bite: How to avoid damage
GOOD ADVICE From May to July, martens are particularly fond of biting into rubber sleeves, power cables and hoses. The garage owners of the Auto Gewerbe Verband Schweiz help motorists to avoid annoying damage. With their sharp teeth, martens easily bite through cables, wires and hoses. The reason: martens defend their territory with bites - especially in the mating season in early summer. [...]
With their sharp teeth, martens easily bite through cables, wires and hoses. The reason: martens defend their territory with a bite - especially during the mating season in early summer.
The nocturnal hunters feel particularly at home in an engine compartment that is still warm. They leave their scent marks there and thus mark their territory. If another marten strays into the foreign territory, it reacts irritably and aggressively to the scent marks of its predecessor - and bites its way through the hoses, lines and cables.
Closed garage is best protection
Open-air parkers that frequently change their parking space are therefore particularly susceptible. Markus Peter, Head of Technology & Environment at the AGVS: "The most effective protection against marten damage is a parking space in a closed garage.
For all those who can not park in a garage, the expert recommends regular thorough washing of the engine to get rid of the set scent marks. Sturdy cable sheaths for the vulnerable parts also help to prevent damage.
Power against the biting animals
Ultrasonic devices emit an acoustic signal that is not perceptible to human ears - and thus strike the animals' stomachs or ears respectively.
The marten defense with electricity is also helpful: A control unit connected to the car battery supplies the metal plates attached to the possible entry points with high voltage. If the animal, which is around 40 centimeters long, touches one of the parts, it receives an electric shock. Markus Peter: "Just like with a pasture fence, the marten gets a fright. But there is no permanent damage for him."
