Scent glands preputial

Discordant patterns of scent gland development were apparent among some species. For example, M. arvalis had larger preputial glands but smaller anal glands than M. rossiaemeridionalls, and the former species had posterolateral glands whereas the latter did not. 

The scent marking of male feral boar, Sus scrofa, with metacarpal and preputial glands varies with rank and the social environment. The dominant boar marked more often than the subordinate one when paired, but did not mark at all when alone (Mayer and Brisbin, 1986). 

These preliminary results seem to confirm that extracts of muskrat preputial glands and possibly also of sweet flag can indeed enhance the catches of muskrats, especially in scented funnel traps in artificial pipes at river banks, where migrating muskrats pass. The animals caught are then mainly males which preferentially enter artificial pipes scented with extracts of musk glands which - it should be remarked here - are produced by other males. 

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