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Porcupine (Erethizon
dorsatum)
The
common
porcupine
is a
large,
robust
rodent.
Adults
weigh
about
10
kilograms
(22
pounds).
Has
a
thick
tail,
and
short
powerful
legs
with
long
curved
claws.
Coat
is
composed
of
rows
of
dense,
brown
undercoat
with
yellow-tipped
guard
hairs.
Guard
hairs
alternate
with
rows
of
loosely
attached
quills
that
vary
from
25
to
65
millimetres
(1
to
2.5
inches)
in
length.
Quills
taper
to a
sharp
and
stiff
point
that
is
covered
with
very
small
barbs.
Quills
are
hollow,
thus
reducing
their
weight
and
providing
buoyancy
when
the
animal
occasionally
swims.
Distribution
Porcupines
occur
in
all
natural
regions
where
there
is
sufficient
vegetation,
including
the
alpine
subregion
in
summer.
Natural
History
Food
In
summer,
porcupines
feed
on
green
leaves
of
forbs,
shrubs
and
trees.
They
climb
trees
with
ease
and
spend
much
of
their
time
foraging
in
the
trees.
In
winter,
they
feed
on
the
inner
bark
(cambium),
twigs
and
buds
of
trees.
Reproduction
and
Growth
Breeding
Behaviour.
Porcupines
live
by
themselves,
except
during
mating
season
in
November
and
December.
Usually
only
one
porcupine
is
born
to
each
female
from
mid-May
through
July.
The
porcupine
is
the
only
North
American
rodent
to
give
birth
to
precocial
young.
Growth
Process
The
young
are
born
covered
with
hair
and
quills,
with
eyes
open,
and
they
are
able
to
move
about
soon
after
birth.
The
quills
are
flat
and
limp
at
birth
but
soon
dry
in
the
air.
Young
porcupines
are
quite
large
at
birth,
weighing
about
500
grams
(1.1
pounds).
Young
follow
their
nomadic
mothers
for
several
weeks,
although
they
are
weaned
in
their
second
week.
Porcupines
move
about at
a slow
and
plodding
pace,
and are
easily
overtaken
by most
animals.
However,
their
impressive defense
system
discourages
attack
by
wolves,
coyotes
or other
predators.
A
porcupine
will
turn its
tail to
an
attacker
and
cover
its
unprotected
face. If
the
attacker
gets too
close,
the
porcupine
will
lash out
with its
spiny,
club-like
tail.
The
blows
from the
tail are
delivered
swiftly,
and the
loose
quills
are
easily
detached
from the
porcupine's
skin.
The
barbed
quills
can be
quite
painful
and
prevent
the
attacker
from
feeding,
especially
if they
are
impaled
in the
mouth or
paws.
The barbs on the quills prevent easy removal and promote movement deeper into the victim. Thus, the quills can kill an animal weeks after an attack. The Porcupine below lives in Larch valley. (This
text information was
provided by Alberta
Government Resource
Development)
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