How to Get Rid of a Marten in the Attic - Steps That Work
updated 11 July 2026
Quick answer
First make sure the noise really is a marten - you hear it at night, and it leaves droppings and greasy smudges at its entry point. Drive it out with light, a radio, and daytime disturbance, and once it leaves the hideout, seal every opening tight. Do not seal in spring or early summer, because there may be young in the nest.
Step by step
- 1
Confirm it is a marten
A marten is active at night, so you hear running, scratching, thumping, and objects being dragged above the ceiling. Look for droppings, food scraps, greasy smudges at entry points, and disturbed insulation. During the day it is usually quiet, because the animal is asleep.
- 2
Find the entry points
Walk around the house and inspect the eaves, roof tiles, gaps under the roofing felt, chimneys, and vents. A marten squeezes through an opening of about 5-6 cm (around 2 inches) and climbs gutters and branches with ease. Note down every spot it could be using to get in.
- 3
Drive the marten out
Martens cannot stand bright light, noise, and disturbance. Leave a light on in the attic along with a playing radio, ideally a talk station, go up there during the day, and stir things up around the den. The goal is to make the hideout stop feeling quiet and safe.
- 4
Add smells it hates
Place rags soaked in strong-smelling substances, or ready-made marten repellents, near the den. Scents work only temporarily and support the eviction, but on their own they are rarely enough. Keep refreshing them until the marten moves out for good.
- 5
Make sure it is gone and there are no young
Before closing the openings, confirm the hideout is empty. Sprinkle a thin layer of flour at the entrance and check for tracks, or plug the opening loosely with paper and watch whether it stays untouched for several nights. In spring and early summer, watch out especially for young, which cannot leave on their own.
- 6
Seal every opening
Once you are sure nothing is inside, permanently close every entrance with sheet metal, dense wire mesh, boards, or mortar. Pay special attention to the eaves and the passages along the gutters. One missed opening is all it takes for the marten to come back.
- 7
Neutralize the scent marking
A marten marks its territory with scent, and that scent is what draws it and other martens back. Clean up droppings and debris thoroughly, and wash the surfaces with an odor-removing cleaner. Also trim back the branches the animal used to climb onto the roof.
Why the marten keeps coming back
A marten treats the attic as its own territory and marks it with scent. Even after you chase it out, the trail left behind acts like an invitation, both for it and for other martens. That is why driving it away without cleaning up the scent and sealing the openings usually ends in a comeback.
The animal picks places that are quiet, dark, and safe, close to a food source. If you leave those conditions in place, the marten has no reason to leave. Everything you do serves one goal: make the hideout uncomfortable first, then physically inaccessible.
Sealing: why the timing matters so much
Sealing is the only permanent fix, but the order matters: the marten has to leave first, and only then do you close the openings. Sealing the entrance with the animal trapped inside means a walled-in, suffering occupant and a foul stench, and often damage too, as the marten tries to break out.
The greatest caution applies from spring to early summer, when young may be in the nest. The adult female goes out to forage while the little ones stay behind, so if you close the opening, they cannot get out on their own. In that period, first make certain the nest is empty, and if you suspect young, postpone sealing until late summer.
Martens in cars and when to call a professional
Martens do not stop at attics - they are also fond of warm engine bays, where they chew through cables and hoses. That calls for a separate approach: washing the scent out of the engine bay, cable guards, and barriers. You will find more in our guide on getting a marten out of your car.
In Poland the marten is a game species with a closed season, so leave trapping or culling to authorized parties, such as hunters or a specialist company. When eviction and sealing fail, or you suspect young in an inaccessible spot, bring in the professionals.
Frequently asked questions
›How do I get rid of a marten in the attic or loft?
Drive it out with light, a radio, and daytime disturbance, back that up with smells it hates, and once it leaves the hideout, seal every entry opening tight. Finally, remove the scent marking so it does not lure the animal back.
›What are martens afraid of?
Bright light, noise, and frequent disturbance, because they lose the sense that the hideout is quiet and safe. Strong smells put them off further, but only temporarily, so combine them with eviction and sealing.
›When must I not seal the openings?
In spring and early summer, when young may be in the nest. Closing the entrance traps them inside, because they cannot leave on their own. In that period, first confirm the hideout is empty, and if in doubt, postpone sealing until late summer.
›How does a marten get into the attic?
It climbs gutters, walls, and branches, and squeezes in through gaps in the eaves, under roof tiles, or around vents - an opening of about 5-6 cm (2 inches) is enough. So move branches away from the roof and inspect every possible passage closely.
›Can I trap a marten myself?
The marten is a game species with a closed season, so leave trapping and culling to authorized parties, such as hunters or a specialist company. Focus your own efforts on eviction, cleaning up the scent, and sealing the building.