Apparently our rabbits were attacked by a marten last night (so says the vet, based on the wounds), leaving two dead, and the other wounded and on antibiotics (she is larger than the other two combined, and more aggressive, so that's probably what saved her).

So, be careful if you have rabbits living in the garden!

Tom

I saw 'Martens' mentioned somewhere in my car insurance blurb (previous Marten damage??) and you've just prompted me to google these evil, vicious creatures.



Errr?

Yes, that's it. They eat cars, chickens, and rabbits.

However, in this case it didn't eat them, just killed/wounded, perhaps the big one (4kg or so) got some good bites in, and it ran away.

Tom

Lots of sharp little fangs hidden in that furry little mouth, I am sure. Those claws look evil as well. I am sorry for your misfortune and I hope your rabbit recuperates quickly!

They look such cute, sweet little critters - but right little EFers when it comes to hunting - they even go for cats. But very nervous/timid when it comes to avoiding people and especially dogs.

Where we are in the countryside it would be silly not to pay a bit more for Mader insurance - although it's mainly in winter, when you come home late; they like nothing more than to snuggle up to a nice warm engine, with a bit of pipe or cable chewing to while away the time.

I always give a good press of the brake pedal to double check in the morning, after a late night.

Must get my eyes tested. I read "Martians".

EDIT - forgot the rest of my post (Phone call ):

Sorry to hear about the furry friends being caught up like that; sounds horrific - didn't know they could do that!

Those of us who've been folowing Spring Watch on BBC TV, saw a film of one of them catching and killing rabbits 4 times their size in the wild. Did anybody else watch it- amazing footage. I'm afraid that Pine Martens are built for business, and in the UK one of the main predators for the huge population of rabbits (with the fox- both doing a very good job to keep numbers down). I am so sorry this one didn't realise yours were loved ones.
I'd just love to keep chickens again- but as we live in prime Marten country, it would just be too tricky. I knew that before we moved in- so it helped us making the decision. One car is kept out, and so far no prob. You can buy spiky plastic carpets to put under car to stop them accessing your brakes.

Can they be ordered anywhere? We have way too many cats around here.

Must say I have never ever heard of one going for a cat around here.

It's just what I seem to remember a few people having said in the past - although I don't think they have any success rate. I think it's just more the case of, that in nature, you'd think that a cat would try its luck against a small, long furry little thing, but if it were to try, then the mader would give as good as it gets, and would dissuade the cat from any further attentions.

Well, they aren't THAT small, as they can grow up to 2kg and have a body length (excluding tail) of 50cm!

But, as the dead rabbits weren't eaten, it seems clear that the surviving one ended up dissuading the marten, but has some deep damage to the base of her ears (apparently they go for the back of the neck).

Tom

Sorry for your rabbits Tom! Seems a perfect retribution to set some traps for the martins and visit your local tanner, perhaps your lovely would enjoy a new stole or some fur lined gloves.

awwww they're cute.... but I wouldn't underestimate them at all.
They can cause a lot of damage, though usually only to cars.
Sorry for your bunnies.

I thought it was some kind of thread about boots?

Now, I'm wonder even myself if I need to get an extra insurance against rodents?

If you leave your car outside at night, yes do buy the extra insurance.
These lil guys love to chew on the cables underneath parked cars.

If you drive through the countryside at night, you'll see lots of them. Lil dark furries with a bright pair of eyes like stars (caught in the headlights).

Last time when I had an insurance policy in my hands I saw this small item mentioning martens and I thought it was another one the insurance company tried to pull. Why pay few bucks more I thought? Do they prefer Audi's tyres to BMW's tyres?

We as humans have the choice in so many ways. Nowadays, you can chose to be vegetarian or vegan, to eat less meat, or some meats and not others. Eat fish and poultry but no red meat. Animals do not chose and cannot chose, the role nature has given them. Has more and more countryside disappears, conflicts cannot be avoided. I am surprised how some people react though. Most love red kites and ospreys, but hate magpies and crows, love red squirrels but hate greys.

Which does not mean I have no sympathy for what happened to your pet rabbits, of course.

The little blighters got into my loft and gnawed off the mane and tail of my grandchildren's rocking- horse.
At least no animal was killed, but the rocking-horse looked a very sorry sight.
Cost a fortune to restore too.

I don't mean to sound ignorant but my neighbours have rabbits and during the day they are outside in an enclosure, but in the early evening the owners put them in the hutch for the night. Are rabbits normally left outside? Yes, we live in the country, and no, my car cables have never been chewed.

A couple of years ago the parrot in the garden centre was attacked and he died. It was thought he was attacked by a marten.