Pest Library

Characteristics

Porcupines are rodents that have gray to black and white-banded quills, rounded body, small ears and head, legs and feet that are strong, and long claws that are made for climbing. They are around 18 to 35 pounds and are 24 to 40 inches long. The porcupines’ distinctive feature is their quills or hairs that have barbed tips on the ends. Their quills are found in all parts of their body, except for their stomach. While these quills are solid at the tip and base, they are not strong at the shaft.

Habitat

Porcupines are common in Canada, the U.S., and Africa. They prefer to live in forests, deserts and grasslands. They like to live in forests where they can be comfortable climbing and staying on trees. However, they can also be seen in brushy wetlands, shrub-steppe regions, and riparian zones. This animal, depending on the region, can live on trees or on the ground.

Behavior

Porcupines are nocturnal creatures, but they can sometimes be seen during the day. With the use of their short legs, strong feet, and long claws, they are able to climb trees. They prefer to live alone and may just meet the opposite gender during the mating season. Porcupines are believed to be fast learners and intelligent, but their distinctive behavior is when they protect themselves against predators, which would allow them to even kill their predator with the use of their quills.

Their quills do not shoot out from their body. However, their quills have the ability to stand and become as thick as a needle when they are threatened. The quills will rise and spread out, which will make the porcupines look bigger, bulkier and stronger. When predators attack, the loose quills will get stuck on the predator, thus hurting it in defense. Porcupines are peaceful animals and will even try to get away from trouble if they can. However, do not underestimate them when they are really threatened because their quills will defend them.

Food

Porcupines can eat almost anything if they are near human dwellings. However, in their natural habitat, these animals are herbivores and will eat flowers, leaves, bark, buds, needles of trees, nuts, berries, and so on.

Life Cycle

The mating season for porcupines just happens once a year, beginning in October until November. When the female is ready to mate, she will begin her shouts while on a tree to call for males that are near. She will also send signals through vaginal secretions and urine markings. Male porcupines that will hear her call, will soon gather before her on the tree, and fight each other off to find the best male candidate. The fighting of males will include shouting, biting, and using their quills to their defense.

Once a male won, mating will happen on the ground. The male will display his courtship by shooting his urine to the female. If the female accepts, the male will be allowed to mate with her.

It will take 210 days before a single offspring is born. For the next five months the young will be nurtured by the mother, and will be closely guided only by the mother with the absence of the father. After five months, the mother will leave her child behind and will let the young porcupine survive its first winter by itself. Porcupines have a long life. They can live for ten to almost 20 years if their habitat is good to them.

Other Information and Tips

Porcupines are known to be an outdoor animal and are not known as pests. They prefer to live by themselves and will not easily breed. Although their quills may pose a threat, especially to dogs who usually fall victim to them, these animals should just be left alone in their natural habitat when seen.