North American Porcupine

The North American Porcupine (Erithizon dorsatum) is the third largest rodent in the world, with only the Beaver and Capibara being larger. Common in Alaska, Canada and the coniferous forests of the Northern United States, they are rather slow and docile….but with a very effective defense against predators. They are covered with sharp, hollow quills, which are barbed and easily attach to an attacker…and are very difficult to remove.

Although slow moving and very nearsighted, the Porcupine has an incredible memory for it’s favorite food source trees.

Here’s a close-up of the quills. Folks in the “North Woods” who let their dogs run loose always risk a hefty vet bill to get them removed from the pooch’s snout!!! Porcupine wiki link

Steven Scott

Steven Scott is a photonaturalist blogger based in Florida and Maine. He has surveyed butterflies with Earthwatch Institute in the mountains of Vietnam, tagged juvenile snook with Mote Marine Laboratory in the mangroves of Florida and filmed a BioBlitz insect survey in Acadia National Park. A registered nurse and retired Army officer, Steven believes man is an integral part of nature and travels annually to Vietnam with humanitarian medical teams from Vets With a Mission.

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