He comes at night and in fog: First one hears pattering on the attic and attic, then you will find feces and booty remains. What can you do, if you regularly have a marten under the roof?
The phone rings at Hans-Friedrich Szameitat's. The caller pleads in exasperation: "I have a marten under the roof and need an immediate solution!“ To the counter question: "How long have you had it??“, is it [called: "For ten years." "That's typical", says Szameitat, one of 131 volunteer city hunters in Hamburg, "Suddenly it's supposed to be very quick." He explains: “In my district, I am the contact person for all problems, that occur with wild animals. It's about rats, a fox or even the marten.” There are city hunters elsewhere too, who operate in so-called “pacified areas” with special permits. You can – always be persistent -over town- and locate county authorities.
With the "immediate solution" that's a thing. First it has to be certain, that it is a marten and then there are several possibilities. "It's the stone marten, who seeks shelter in human dwellings. That's why it's also called a house- or roof marten", knows the expert and continues, "Some people are afraid of the animal in the house or bothered by the occasional noise."
About the fur wearer, harmless to humans, based on various indicators (see photos next page) to be clearly identified, Szameitat goes in search of clues at the "crime scene".. At the same time he wants to find out, how the marten gets up and then under the roof. To do this, he takes a very close look at the house and garden. With meticulousness and a trained eye, he looks for the access routes and has them for it – in dry weather – one hint: "Spreading flour helps." The aim of the exercise is ultimately to "lock out" the marten. His additions have to do that (see drawing below right) locked or made inaccessible.
The expert on the search for clues at the crime scene:
A From this embankment, the stone marten has an easy time: With a jump he lands on the roof.
B Such wall openings have the dimensions of a barn door for the marten.
C, D The trellis on a patio roof is examined closely. There, so-called nail marks from the marten's claws are a sure sign of its way onto the roof.