Porcupine

		SIZE

		HEIGHT:	12”
		LENGTH:	23.62 to 35.43 in
		WEIGHT:	11 to 30.8 lbs

		BREEDING

		MATURITY:	Female: 2 yrs Male: 2 ½ yrs
		MATING:	October - November
		GESTATION:	210 days
		# OF YOUNG :	1 baby is born (with all of its quills)

		LIFESTYLE

		HABIT:	Nocturnal, feeding happens primarily at night.
		DIET:	Tree bark, raspberry stems, grasses, flowering herbs, and a large amount of apples.
		LIFESPAN:	18 years

		SCIENTIFIC NAME

		FAMILY:	Family: Erethizontidae Scientific Name: Erethizon dorsatum

		GENERAL INFORMATION

		Porcupines possess a very unique defense system. A porcupine’s first line of defense is escaping from danger by climbing up a tree. However, if such an escape is not possible, the porcupine has many options. Porcupines are the only mammal in North America to use quills to deter predators. Around 30,000 quills are present on the dorsal side of a porcupine. Because loosing quills is very expensive to a porcupine, these animals have developed several warning signs to precede their use of their ultimate weapon. If visual and accoustic warnings fail, a porcupine will erect its quills, and simultaneously release a nasty scent. Quills are only used if the threat has not been deterred by these other means. (Roze, 1989; Roze, 2002; Sweitzer and Berger, 1992) Porcupines use a combination of acoustic, chemical, visual, and tactile communication.

"I toured Bear Country 14 years ago, at age 14. I will be back this year with my husband, 4 yr old daughter and 2 yr old son. I still remember how awesome it was, and want my family to have the same great memories!"

Christi Guinard
Idaho