The Stone Marten: Public Enemy Number One
Beyond household pets, there is an even greater threat to the car’s mechanics: the stone marten. This predator has become a real nuisance across large parts of Europe. Martens don’t just seek warmth; they also display territorial behavior. If a marten smells a rival in “its” car, it attacks. In its fury, it bites anything it can reach.
This is where a bit of technical knowledge comes in. Much of the wiring in modern cars contains components made from soy or fish oil. To a marten, this is irresistible. They chew through ignition cables, bite into coolant hoses, and destroy the insulation under the hood. A chewed-through coolant hose can cause the engine to overheat and blow a head gasket—a repair that quickly becomes very expensive.