Porcupines I think are really interesting creatures. They are the second largest rodent in the north, next to beaver. They are largely solitary and nocturnal creatures, and are content to munch on leaves and buds and tree bark. Their only defense is their quills, which are very effective. The quills are barbed and hollow, and when they are stuck into the attackers flesh, they work their way in. This can fatally injure the attacker, either by the quill hitting a blood vessel, internal organ, or due to secondary infection setting in. These deter most predators except for the fisher, which are known to flip them, and attack their unquilled stomach.
Porcupines den in a hollow tree in winter, but during the summer they simply rest during the day in a tree. The female gives birth in the spring to a single baby, which is very well developed. As young as two weeks of age the baby begins to eat leaves and twigs. The baby stays with the mother for about six months.
The porcupines have a reputation for causing damage to property from chewing. We have not had problems with them, in part because we have a salt block on the far end of our property for wildlife. Porcupines love salt. I was on the deck enjoying the spring weather last year when I looked up and saw this porky. Then I noticed that there was a second, smaller one on the branch. I was lucky enough to be in a position to actually watch the little one nurse and get this shot on video. I clipped out a shot for this post. A rare view from our deck!
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