North American Porcupine

Erethizon dorsatum

There’s a catch …

Many an assailant that comes too close to a North American porcupine will say this. Its long quills are provided with many tiny little barbs on the tip – also on the tail. If it strikes with this, the barbs bore into the assailant’s flesh. A painful experience …

Charakteristics

Origin
North America: Canada, northern and western USA to Mexico
Habitat
forests
Diet
Leaves, shoots, berries, bark
Status
least concern

Size
up to one meter long (including 14-30 cm tail)
Weight
up to 9 kg
Gestation period
About 210 days
Achievable age
up to 14 years

Threat Categories of IUCN

Did you know that?

Adult animals have up to 30,000 quills.
Offspring are born with soft quills which become hard within one hour.

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