Porcupine

Porcupines are large, slow-moving rodents known for their sharp quills, which are modified hairs made of keratin.

Porcupines are large, slow-moving rodents known for their sharp quills, which are modified hairs made of keratin. The term refers to more than two dozen species in two main families: New World porcupines and Old World porcupines. They are generally herbivorous, solitary, and nocturnal, and they use their quills for defence rather than actively shooting them. North American porcupines are found throughout most of Canada, making the species familiar to Canadian wildlife readers and relevant to Canadian forestry and backcountry ecosystems.

Classification and diversity

Porcupines are divided into two major families: Erethizontidae in the New World and Hystricidae in the Old World. Sources describe them as a diverse group of more than two dozen species with broadly similar quill-covered bodies.

Physical characteristics

Porcupines are heavy-bodied rodents with short legs and quills that are modified hairs composed of keratin. Their quills can detach when contact is made, providing a passive defence against predators. The North American porcupine is the second-largest rodent in North America after the beaver.

Habitat and range

New World porcupines live in the Americas, including much of Canada and the United States, while Old World porcupines are found in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Porcupines occupy a wide range of habitats, including forests and other wooded areas.

Diet and behaviour

Porcupines are mainly herbivores that eat vegetation such as leaves, bark, roots, fruit, and other plant material. They are usually solitary and nocturnal, and the North American species is known for climbing trees and feeding on bark.