The American Porcupine

North American Porcupine.

       Should you, on passing through a hemlock or jackpine forest, notice several trees with bark removed and leaves missing, look for the culprit somewhere near. He may be sitting on a limb directly over your head. Have no fear that he may drop or run away.

       Of all North American rodents, the porcupine is the most dull-witted and the slowest in movement. Why should he hurry? Has he not thousands of daggers on his back and tail? And does he not know that by thrashing that tail from side to side he can drive those poisonous daggers into any flesh that happens to come in contact with that tail?

       To the timber men the porcupine is a hated nuisance. He not only girdles the trees and ruins millions of feet of timber, but he invades the camps. There anything that has had salt or grease in it is chewed to shreds. Salt is one of the favorite foods of the porcupine and to get it he will even eat mud having brine in it. Laundry soap disappears like magic, and cast antlers are gnawed for the grease and salt they contain.

       The porcupine has many names. To some he is ''Quill pig" to others he is "Prickle-cub'' while his most common nickname is ''Porky." All suit him well. He is thickset, short-faced and small-eared. The front teeth are deep orange in color, the coat is brownish-gray and the quills are white with black tips. 

       The quills are found everywhere except on muzzle, underparts and legs. Those on the head are one inch long and those on the back four inches long. The quill tips are hard and sharp and highly polished in appearance. The quills are concealed in the wool and hair and sometimes are difficult to see.

       When an enemy approaches a porcupine. Porky immediately hides his head under a log or root, or between his own front legs, and lies flat on the ground. Instantly, the tail begins to lash from side to

side, and woe unto the animal that is too near. At the body end, the quills are loosely attached, so all that is needed is a forceful slap and several barbs are closely embedded in the mouth or coat of the bothering foe; then the barbs clinch and trouble begins. If the barbs are not removed, death sometimes ends the suffering of the animal. As each porcupine has over 30,000 poisonous barbs or daggers on his quills, he can wage a lengthy battle.

       Most animals give the porcupine the right of way. But not the fisher. This marten-like animal has no fear of Porky or his quills. Though he be stabbed again and again, no harm is caused. He seems to be immune in some way to the quills. So when he desires a feast, he searches out a porcupine. Porky stupidly thrusts his head out of the way in the usual manner. Quick as a flash, the fisher's paw shoots under the porcupine, and before the dazed animal has sensed what has occurred, the fisher has him on his back and killed. Indians living in regions infested with porcupines consider porcupine meat a luxury. It is said to be coarse, but like beef in flavor when the animal is young.

       The young porcupine is larger than a baby black bear at birth and like its parents makes its wants known by a series of sniffs, grunts, squeaks and shrieks.

       All porcupines are solitary animals, wandering about by themselves. Occasionally, two will meet at some water-lily bed and both attempt to use the same log. Under such circumstances a quarrel is apt to occur and one get pushed into the water. They do not especially like swimming, but will paddle some distance when necessary. The quills being full of air act as floats.

       The American Porcupine is much smaller than the kind found in Europe. The latter is a most formidable-looking animal. Its stiff hair and exceedingly long large quills which flare out from face backward, have made this animal very famous in stories of the regions in which it is found.

       No matter where the porcupines live, they destroy trees and in other ways prove they are rodents which have a very bad reputation.  Cornbli

After you have read about American porcupines, watch the video below to see how two porcupines share a love connection. 

• Will these porcupines share a love connection?

It's fun to make crafts of porcupines also so that you will remember them better. Here is a listing of porcupine crafts from the web:

• Porcupine and hedgehog crafts from AHC arts&crafts
• Porcupines - animal study, books and craft