table of contents
- Characteristics of all species of marten
- List of native species of marten
- frequently asked Questions
When it comes to martens, real marten (Martes) such as stone and pine marten are automatically thought of, but there are other species of marten that are native to Germany. Below is a brief overview.
In a nutshell
- Marten species native to Germany live in water and on land
- belong to the dog-like predators (Canoidea)
- usually crepuscular and nocturnal
- slender, supple, elongated physique typical (exception badger)
- Most species of marten secrete stinking secretions via the anal gland
Characteristics of all species of marten
In Germany, different species of marten are indigenous to an overview later. Martens are dog-like predators and can live in water and on land. Among them there are excellent swimmers such as the mink and the otter. As a rule, they are active at night or at dusk. The local species of marten are mainly carnivores or omnivores. The loners mark their territories with a smelly anal secretion. Typical for all species of marten, not only in Germany, are further characteristics:
- slender, supple, elongated body
- short limbs
- five curved, non-retractable claws per foot
- relatively small ears
- predominantly brown or black fur
- strong scissor bite
- Number of teeth between 28 and 38 pieces
List of native species of marten
Below is an overview of the species of martens living in Germany. They are listed alphabetically:
Pine marten (Martes martes)
- Appearance: triangular ears with a yellow border; black nose; hairy soles; long bushy tail
- Fur: red-brown to dark brown with yellowish-brown throat patch
- Size: 40 to 50 cm, tail 15 to 25 cm
- Weight: 1 to 1.5 kg
- Lifespan: 6 to 15 years
- Litters per year: one with 3 to 5 cubs
- Habitat: deciduous and coniferous forests, in treetops
- Food: squirrel, Birds, insects, Amphibians, molluscs, rodents, berries, nuts
- Natural enemies: golden eagle, red fox
European badger (Meles meles)
- Appearance: stocky, compact build; strong grave paws; slender, conical head; long snout; thin tail with white hair; round, small, protruding ears
- Fur: silvery-gray, head with black and white markings
- Size: body length 50 to 80 cm, tail 10 to 18 cm
- Weight: 5 to 20 kg
- Lifespan: 5 to 15 years
- Litters per year: one with 3 to 5 cubs
- Habitat: underground tubes in the forest (badger burrow), deciduous and mixed forests, wetlands and marshland
- Food: berries, worms, insects, snails, fruits, seeds
- Natural enemies: wolf and fox
European mink (Mustela lutreola)
- Appearance: short ears; Webbed toes
- Fur: red-brown, dark-brown to black; white chin and throat
- Size: body length 25 to 45 cm, tail 10 to 20 cm
- Weight: 0.5 to 0.9 kg
- Lifespan: 4 to 10 years
- Litters per year: one with 2 to 10 cubs
- Habitat: Riverside regions with dense vegetation, standing and flowing waters
- Food: birds, ducks, rabbits, hares, fish, crabs, amphibians, insects
- Natural enemies: fox, Birds of prey, Otter
Note: The European mink should not be missing in this overview, even if it is on the red list in Germany as "extinct" or "missing". The mink should be at home here again. Resettlements have been taking place in Saarland and the Steinhuder Meer for several years.
European otter (Lutra lutra)
- Appearance: flat, broad head; cylindrical physique; small eyes; blunt muzzle; strong whiskers (vibrissae); small, barely visible ears; Webbed toes; strong, powerful tail
- Coat: glossy dark brown, sides of the head and neck light brown to whitish
- Size: body length up to 140 cm, tail 30 to 50 cm
- Weight: 7 to 15 kg
- Lifespan: 15 to 18 years
- Litters per year: one with 2 to 4 cubs
- Habitat: Bank structures on streams, lakes, rivers, ponds with dense vegetation
- Food: water fowl, fish, crabs, amphibians, mussels, snails, aquatic insects, small mammals (including muskrats)
- Natural enemies: lynx, wolf, sea eagle
Note: Otters can dive 300 meters and that to a depth of 18 meters. The ears and nose are closed. Even in the countryside, they are able to hike up to 20 kilometers.
Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)
- Appearance: round, small ears; rounded snout; bushy, long tail
- Fur: black and white, also whitish-light yellow
- Size: body length 50 to 60 cm, tail 10 to 20 cm
- Weight: 0.5 to 2.2 kg
- Lifespan: 5 to 10 years
- Litters per year: one with 3 to 7 cubs
- Habitat: adaptable, attitude as Pets, hardly any chance of survival in nature
- Food: small rodents, birds
Note: Ferrets belong to the group of polecats, they have been domesticated. They used to be used for hunting.
Ermine (Mustela erminea)
- Appearance: short legs, short tail
- Fur: top brown, sides and belly yellowish-white, black tip of the tail (summer fur); completely white, except for black tail tip (winter fur)
- Size: body length 25 to 40 cm, tail 8 to 12 cm
- Weight: 110 to 345 g
- Lifespan: 4 to 6 years
- Litters per year: one with 5 to 7 cubs
- Habitat: field margins, forest edges, hedges, parks, in holes in the ground under heaps of stones, in abandoned hamster and mole burrows
- Food: mice, rats, rabbits, birds, Bird eggs, Fish, insects, amphibians
- Natural enemies: birds of prey such as owls, buzzards, badgers, foxes, larger martens such as stone marten
Note: In earlier centuries, the hide of the ermine, also known as the great weasel, was used for the coats of kings.
Polecat (Mustela putorius)
- Appearance: very slim body and head; low shoulder height up to 5 cm
- Fur: dark brown or black; Snout, tips of ears, white behind the eyes with black spots
- Size: body length 30 to 35 cm, tail 15 cm
- Weight: 0.3 to 1.5 kg
- Lifespan: 4 to 10 years
- Litters per year: one with 3 to 8 boys
- Habitat: fields, meadows, forest edges, open areas
- Food: small rodents, amphibians, birds, bird eggs, fish, fruits, berries
- Natural enemies: birds of prey, wolves, foxes, lynxes
Note: The polecat has been on the red list of endangered species in this country since 2020.
Mouse weasel (Mustela nivalis)
- Appearance: short legs; long neck; flat ears; pointed snout; round, small head
- Fur: brown-red, belly white
- Size: body length 10 to 18 cm, tail 2 to 8 cm
- Weight: 50 to 250 g
- Lifespan: 2 to 5 years
- Litters per year: one with 4 to 10 young
- Habitat: meadows, heaths, forest edges, hedges, open areas
- Food: lemmings, mice, rabbits, insects, birds, amphibians
- Natural enemies: martens, ermines, owls, foxes
- Special feature: smallest predator species worldwide
Mink (Neovison vison)
- Appearance: strong build; pointed, flat head; Webbed toes
- Fur: dark brown, darker upper lip; lighter lower jaw spot
- Size: body length 30 to 45 cm, tail 20 cm
- Weight: 0.5 to 2.5 kg
- Lifespan: 3 to 7 years
- Litters per year: one with 2 to 10 cubs
- Habitat: banks of rivers, ponds, lakes with high, dense vegetation
- Food: crabs, fish, amphibians, water fowl, mice, muskrats, insects, ground-breeding birds and eggs
- Natural enemies: otters, foxes
Note: The American mink is a neozoon, originally from America, but feels at home here. The wild animals here come from breeding farms.
Beech marten (Martes foina)
- Appearance: bushy tail; light nose; very slim body; hairless soles of the feet
- Fur: gray-brown; white, forked throat patch, sometimes reaching to the front legs
- Size: body length 35 to 55 cm, tail 22 to 30 cm
- Weight: 1.1 to 2.3 kg
- Lifespan: 3 to 10 years
- Litters per year: one with 3 to 5 cubs
- Habitat: open and rocky terrain with trees, parks, attics, barns
- Food: small mammals, amphibians, birds, bird eggs, insects, berries, fruit
- Natural enemies: birds of prey, foxes
frequently asked Questions
Usually the shy animals do not necessarily seek to be close to people, but instead take flight. However, bites can certainly occur if an animal feels threatened or cornered. The bites can be quite painful. In such cases, these should be presented to a doctor as inflammation is possible.
They are not under nature protection, they come under the hunting law. However, they may only be hunted, caught or killed by a hunter, but only outside the closed season from mid-October to the end of February. The only exceptions are the otter and European mink, which are on the Red List as endangered.
Mainly stone marten feel at home here. To drive them away, their new home should be made really uncomfortable, for example loud music, the use of repellent spray or powder. The animals cannot tolerate the smell. A marten deterrent can also be used. It creates unpleasant sounds for the animals. In addition, the whereabouts must be thoroughly cleaned. All scent brands must go.
