North American Porcupine

Scientific Name: Erethizon dorsatum

Order: Rodentia

Family: Erethizontidae

Conservation Status

About

There are almost thirty different porcupine species 0f porcupines. Their body is coated in about 30,000 quills. Its quills are used as a defensive mechanism. While they cannot shoot their quills, they detach quite easily and discourage predators. Porcupines are not very aggressive and will only use this tactic if they feel threatened. Surprisingly, porcupines are very good swimmers and regularly climb trees to build nests or find food.

Find me at EPZ

Location: "The Wetlands", adjacent to the river otters and Education Animal

Arrived at EPZ: 01/18/2014

Habitat & Range
As its name suggests, the North American porcupine’s range spans across various regions of North America, including most of Canada, the Western United States, and into Northern Mexico. They typically inhabit coniferous and mixed forest areas but have also adapted to live in scrublands, tundra, and desert regions.
Identification
Its stout body is covered in soft, brown or black hair with white highlights. The back, sides and tail are covered with thousands of sharp quills that are easily released when touched and serve as the porcupine’s main defense against predators. An average adult porcupine is 2 to 3 feet long with a tail measuring an additional 7 to 10 inches. Their weight can range from 12 to 36 pounds.
Diet
During the summer, porcupines feed on twigs, roots, stems, berries, and other vegetation. In the winter, they survive on conifer needles and tree bark.
Reproduction & Lifespan
Porcupines typically mate during October and November and females give birth to a single offspring after approximately 200 days. The young are born with soft quills that harden just a few hours after birth. Female porcupines reach sexual maturity at around 2 years and males at 2.5 years. Porcupines have an average lifespan of 6 to 18 years.
Fantastic Fact
Despite the sharp, spiny quills of a North American porcupine, they are still preyed upon by mountain lions, cougars, foxes and fishers. These predators bite the porcupine’s unprotected face or its underside.

North American Porcupine

Conservation Status

About

Find me at EPZ

Habitat & Range

Identification

Diet

Reproduction & Lifespan

Fantastic Fact