Adorable Little Pests Are Wreaking Havoc on Cars in Germany
Martens are cute German pests that chew up your car wires and can lead to serious engine damage. How much damage can these little pests really be causing?
The Marten, the peskiest of German pests, is a whole heap of trouble just lying in wait to wreak havoc on dein autombil (your car). Part fox, part raccoon but smaller and admittedly cuter than both, the Marten is a menace
How these pests wreak their havoc on cars in Germany
Despite near extinction in the ‘50s due to being overhunted for their fur, Martens have made a serious comeback. They are drawn to the warmth and shelter of engine bays and are most annoying during the early summer, mating season.
Once inside the engine bay, they can destory to your spark plug wires, coolant hoses, wiper fluid hoses, rubber CV axle boots, rubber steering rack bellows, wiring insulation, and underhood sound deadening material like an insatiable beast. And despite their furry cuteness, they have surprisingly sharp teeth.
MORE: A German Startup Has a Different Approach to Self-Driving Cars
During a four-year span between 2010-2014, they were responsible for $330 million in damages and over 1.1 million insurance claims!
In 2012, Marten damage was the third most frequent insurance claim in all of Germany, beat only by cracked windshields and wildlife-related accidents. In the town of Stuttgart alone, one-third of all cars reported having some type of Marten infiltration.
What makes matters worse is that several German insurances only cover the specific part directly damaged by the critters and not the collateral damage they also caused. In something as complex as a modern car engine, one chewed-up hose can lead to a whole heap of subsequent issues.
When you factor this reality in, the damages likely come out as much more than the reported $330 million.
Lines of defense
MORE: New Funding Proposed to Help Make Roads Safer for Wildlife
Unfortunately, there isn’t one silver bullet that is able to stop these furry headaches. With that said, tricks of the trade have been developed to at least slow them down.
Many folks turn to anti-Marten ultrasonic devices that deter them for a time, but even then, other parts of the engine dampen the effect and the rodents begin to develop a numbness to the sound.
Mesh wires have been found to give some resistance, but the determined Marten finds ways to move past them as well. There are also absurd remedies that Germans have devised, like sprinkling dog hair, urine cakes, garlic cloves, mothballs, and even human urine on the engine (the Martens often mark their territory via urination).
, wildlife biologist name Hans-Heinrich Krüger is currently working with car manufacturers to develop more robust lines of defense. Some of these methods include hard plastic conduits to protect wires and hoses as well as experimenting with ways of closing off the engine bay.
Protection from your local pest
Martens aren’t the only rodent to wreak havoc on cars. Other animals like mice and raccoons have been known to cause damage to cars here in the United States. Luckily there’s an easy way to make sure you’re covered.
. It can get you competitive quotes from top name-brand providers in less than a minute. Friendly agents will also help to make sure you’re protected from anything life throws at you.
4.7
.jpg&w=64&q=75){kind=avatar}
