If you have been following my photos for very long you will notice quite a few that feature the bristly porcupine. I didn't intentionally set out to photograph these little guys, but I have a regular route that I use to try and spy wildlife and it is teeming with them. It is not unheard of for me to go out in an evening, these animals are generally nocturnal so best spotted in late evening, and see anywhere from 2 to 10 of these crazy creatures. We even had one regular last year that was massive and we (by we I mean my daughter and I) named him Oscar and we always spotted him on our drives. So since I photograph them regularly I thought I would put some facts about them out there because although they are most known for their painful quills they have many other interesting features as well. So here are a few interesting facts about these prickly creatures.
P108Oskar looking very spectacular in all his quills.
*Porcupines are NOT the ninjas of the forest! They do not throw, or shoot, their quills as many people believe them to do. In truth the quills have to come into contact with something to stay and so to help protect themselves these creatures will swing their tails, where the bulk of their quills lay, to help ensure they have the force needed to deter the intruder. So while they can't shoot their quills at you it is still a good idea to keep your viewing from a distance just to be safe.
*Porcupine mamas are not quill proof! Porcupine babies, or porcupettes, are born with their quills already on their bodies. While this might sound like a painful process for mama porcupine the porcupettes' quills are actually soft when they are born and in the next hour after their birth they will harden into their protective spikes. So mamas aren't troubled by their quills.
P106A young porcupine among the leaves.
* Porcupines have terrible eyesight! So whenever they sense danger they will run and hide or if that isn't an option they will climb a tree to achieve safety. If you ever have a chance to see this in action it is really quite amusing as the porcupines run looks like something out of a comic book because their back legs are longer than their front legs but the moment they switch into climbing mode they turn into climbers that would impress any rock climber.
P113Porcupine working his way up a tree.
A189Porcupine perched up in a tree
