Plantar Glands

Hind paw of a fisher (Pekania pennanti)

Photo by Brian Vigorito

Fishers have plantar glands within whorls of hair on their hind paws that emit a distinctive odour (note that distinctive does not necessarily mean pungent, as there is no source stating whether or not the smell is unpleasant).(1)(2)(3)(4)(5) They are not sweat glands or anal glands. Plantar glands appear as small dark circular patches on the large segmented centre pad (known as the metacarpal pad).

The plantar glands of pregnant female fishers enlarge to >10mm during January through May, and reduce in size (<10 mm) during June after giving birth. On males, the glands increase in size from <15 mm in December to >30mm in May. Reduction of the gland size is complete by June. Because these glands enlarge near and during mating season, it is hypothesised they serve the purpose of creating a trail of scent for fishers to locate each other for mating.(3)

Most marten species also have patches on their hind paws that are associated with plantar glands, while the North American river otter has similar patches that may serve as anti-slip mechanisms.(1)(5)(6)

References

  1. Buskirk, Steven W., P. F. A. Maderson, and Robin M. O’Connor. “Plantar glands in North American mustelidae“. Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 4: Ecology, Evolution, and Comparative Biology (1986): 617-622.
  2. Kitchener, A., Carlo Meloro, and W. Terry. “Form and function of the musteloids“. (2017): 92-128. pp. 107.
  3. Powell, R. A., S. W. Buskirk, and W. J. Zielinski. “Fisher and marten: Martes pennant and Martes americana“. Wild mammals of North America: Biology, management and conservation. John Hopkins University Press Baltimore, 2003. 635-649. pp. 636-639.
  4. Naturally Curious with Mary Holland. 22 August, 2010. “Scent Glands – Welcome to a photographic journey through the woods, fields and marshes of New England“. Accessed 06 October, 2024.
  5. Morse, Susan C., Northern Woodlands. “Tracking Tips: Fisher or Otter?“. Accessed 08 May, 2026.
  6. Noel, Alexis C., et al. “Enhanced wet grip with North American river otter paws“. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1542.1 (2024): 638-646.

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