Mustelid anal glands

There is strong evidence that sulfur compounds in urine and feces signal predator to prey species (Nolte et al. 1994). The major compounds in mustelid anal gland that repel small rodents are sulfur compounds such as sulfides, thiols, thie-tanes, or dithiolanes. These compounds have been used to deter rodent pests (e.g. Sullivan et al. 1988). 

Thomomys talpoides) to Mustelid Anal Gland Compounds... 

AVOIDANCE RESPONSE OF POCKET GOPHERS (THOMOMYS TALPOIDES) TO MUSTELID ANAL GLAND COMPOUNDS... 

Experiment B. To provide a somewhat more direct test of gopher avoidance of mustelid anal gland compounds, a capillary tube with one or more compounds was attached (by a plastic twist-tie) to the treadle of the tunnel of each Longworth trap during regular trapping periods. The open end of the... 

Fig. 3. Avoidance behavior responses ("capture" in live-traps) of pocket gophers to mustelid anal gland compounds and a novel odor in the laboratory bioassay arena. p < 0.05 p < 0.01 significant difference by chi-square. + p = 0.75 ...

This study has demonstrated that certain mustelid anal gland compounds will produce an avoidance response by pocket gophers in both laboratory and field environments. As discussed for snowshoe hares (Sullivan and Crump, 1984), this biological activity is presumably a fear response by gophers to one or more components of mustelid (predator) anal gland odor. 

Sullivan, T.P. D.R. Crump. 1986. Avoidance of pocket gophers Thomomys talapoides) to mustelid anal gland compounds. In Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 4, Ecology, Evolution, and Comparative Biology, eds. D. Duvall, D. Muller-Schwarze R.M. Silverstein, pp. 514-531, Plenum, New York. 

Mountain beaver, Aplodontia rufa, a primitive rodent from northwestern North America, fed less from food bowls if the rim was scented with mink anal gland secretion, or urine from mink, bobcat, coyote, or dog. The control odors butyric acid or guinea pig urine had no effect (Epple et fl/., 1993). Mountain beaver did not respond significantly to mustelid sulfur compounds though, yet these deter other small mammals (Epple etal, 1993). 

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