This nocturnal animal is a vegetarian who will dine on leaves, shrubs, tree bark, pine needles, berries, flowers, fruits and grasses. In spring porcupines crave sodium, which causes them to chew on sodium rich or salty tasting objects such as antlers, axe handles, canoe paddles and outhouse seats. The porcupine is largely arboreal and may spend three or more winter months in a single pine tree. This large rodent is found in mixed deciduous and coniferous forests but prefers hemlock and pine stands. In the winter porcupines will den in a cave, hollow tree or a decaying log, venturing for food nightly using the same path, not straying very far from the den. Porcupines have been known to venture onto farmland especially when there is produce such as corn or apples for them to eat. |
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Dead on the road is perhaps the most common place where people see porcupines. In the spring these animals, when craving salt, will end up on the side on the road licking the remainder of the winters' road salt. Because they are near-sighted and very slow many are killed by automobiles. The fisher is the only animal that is a proficient hunter of the porcupine. This large, tree-climbing weasel can attack and kill a porcupine with such speed and agility they rarely get quilled. Cougars have also been known to prey on the porcupine. Porcupines will breed in late fall with an elaborate courtship, where the male will grunt, whine and even "dance" for the female. The gestation period for a porcupine is 205-217 days, which is long for a rodent, with a single baby being born in early spring. Newborn porcupines are well developed with their eyes open and fully equipped with over 30, 000 quills. They are left to fend for themselves for hours at a time and can eat solid food 10 days after they are born. |
