Both olfactory recognition and maternal experience are important determinants of successful maternal care. Lesions to the central noradrenergic projection to the olfactory bulbs prior to parturition results in cannibalism without producing a general anosmia or gross imparment of maternal behavior. Similar lesions made after parturition and maternal experience are completely without effect. We interpret these findings as providing further evidence for a noradrenergic influence on bulbar networks at parturition which are important for, and have long lasting consequences on, maternal recognition.