Small Mammal
American Porcupine
Slow mover, sharp dresser
Where Porkies Roam
Found statewide in Maine’s forests, especially areas with plenty of trees to climb and bark to chew.
Quill Power
Nature’s amateur acupuncturists can’t “shoot” their quills, but they don’t have to. When threatened, they turn their back and wait for predators to get the point. Each quill is barbed (i.e. hard to remove), making a bad time for anything that violates the personal space of a porcupine.
Quick Facts
Average Size
Porcupines can grow 2-3 feet long and are surprisingly good climbers, spending much of their time in trees.
What's on the Menu
Inner bark, leaves, buds, and twigs, especially from hemlock, maple, and pine.
The Look
Stocky (don’t tell them we said that) body, dark fur, and thousands of sharp quills hidden beneath. Pointy!
