Prickly Critter

The name for this critter comes from the Latin words meaning spiny pig; although it shares no biological connection to pigs.  It is a rodent; in fact the second-largest rodent on the continent, second only to the beaver.

Meet Erethizon Dorsatum - The North American Porcupine.  These large rodents have coats of modified semi-rigid hairs composed of keratin forming sharp spines or quills that are a defense against predators.  

There are two families of porcupines in the world; ours belong the New World family who range from North America to northern South America.  Porcupines indigenous to Italy, parts of Asia and Africa belong to the Old World family.  Both are distinct families with the slightly smaller New World porkies adapted to woodlands and capable of climbing trees; while Old World porkies are strictly terrestrial and mostly nocturnal.

Naturally, the porcupine can go about its business without being in a hurry.  From the video you can note the short, stocky body, short legs and leisurely sauntering gait.  Quills are dark brown to black with the longest guard hairs white-tipped. The feet are small and equipped with long claws capable of building a den in a hollow tree, fallen log or an underground burrow.

This is an herbivore preferring tree leaves and buds, green plants and the soft inner bark of trees.  The female is receptive to breeding for only about  8-12 hours in October-November with gestation taking a very long seven months.  A single youngster is born in May or June.  A newborn porcupette comes fully-equipped with quills, erupted teeth and eyes open.  It feeds itself within a week, is weaned after a month and stays with mom until the first autumn.

Porcupines can be a nuisance as a consequence of of their salt-seeking behavior and will gnaw on anything with sodium deposits including tools like axe handles that have human perspiration on them.  Many years ago it was a porcupine that gnawed the high pressure transmission lines on my Toyota 4Runner for the accumulated road salt.  A delicacy I suspect.  

Fast Facts:  Porcupines do not throw their quills.  The porcupine has very few natural predators; among them are the Fisher and the Great Horned Owl, who are known to regularly hunt and kill porcupines.  Like mice, beavers and squirrels, a porcupine's front incisors never stop growing and must be worn-down by gnawing.