Unique Qualities:

Porcupines are the second largest rodents in North America (beavers are the largest). They are about the size of a small dog and some weigh over 20 kg! Most range in colour from brown to black but they can also be white.

A porcupine’s teeth are bright orange and are very strong so that they can chew through wood. Their large paws have very sharp claws to help them climb trees. Porcupines hide in trees, but they have a very strong odour so you are able to smell one even if you don’t see it!

Porcupines look like they have a soft coat, but hidden in their hair are up to 30 000 quills. Usually these quills lay flat against the porcupine’s body but if it’s scared it will stick them all up in warning.

Many people believe that porcupines can throw their quills but this is a myth. The quills have barbs on the end and will only detach and stick in an animal if the animal touches them.

Where they live:

The North American porcupine is found in many habitats across almost all of Canada and the western United States; almost anywhere there are trees. There are other species of porcupine found in South America, Africa, Europe and Asia.

Porcupines like to hang out in forests and grasslands. North American porcupines are very good at climbing and spend a lot of time in trees eating bark and branches. 

During the day porcupines sleep in a dens high up in a tree, in a hollow log or under some rocks. They might also stay in dens during winter storms.

Porcupines do not hibernate they just take shelter from the weather and come out to eat food close by.

Despite the protection of their quills, porcupines are still vulnerable to many different predators. Their main predator is the fisher.

Diet:

Porcupines are herbivores and use their big front teeth to eat wood. In the winter they eat tree bark, branches and pine needles. When spring comes they eat new grass, leaves, buds, stems, fruit, berries, seeds, nuts, flowers and insects.

Status:

The Porcupine is not considered threatened in Canada.