Porcupine by sunnygreenwood

Porcupine

We came across this treed Porcupine in our travels. Porcupines are the second largest North American rodent next to Beavers. S/he was about 60 ft up in the air. I'll post a pic in my other album to give you sense of the whole scene. I had other pics that showed the body and tail a bit better but this is the only one that showed the teeth! Yuck!

The distinguishing feature of porcupines is their quills along their back and tail. The Lethbridge College web sites says "quills are easily dislodged and penetrate the flesh of a potential predator. Microscopic barbs on the tips of the quills serve to pull the quills deeper into tissue. Quill penetration can cause infection and in severe cases, the eventual death of an attacker. Adult quill sizes range from 2 – 10 cm. Larger Porcupines may have as much as 30,000 quills distributed throughout the body."

Here's the link in case you're interested in reading more about them: http://lcvirtualwildlife.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=64&Itemid=84

Many thanks for dropping by.
He is very cute. Even if he is covered in prickly quills.
April 16th, 2012  
wow... I had no idea they would climb a tree, great shot!!!
April 16th, 2012  
Curious. You would have thought it would have gone for the pine tree.
April 16th, 2012  
These suckers do a lot of damage at my hubby's hunting camp...they have chewed the out house to pieces. Nice capture.
April 16th, 2012  
very cool porcupine and shot!
April 16th, 2012  
cool capture!
April 16th, 2012  
Cute spiky dude & very interesting info :)
April 16th, 2012  
wow, that was a lucky capture for you. Glad you didn't get too close. Was looking thru your osprey photos, they are great.
April 16th, 2012  
Amazing shot Anne and interesting information
April 16th, 2012  
How can something so cute do so much damage! Fantastic capture .. but don't get too close!!
April 16th, 2012  
Super capture!!
April 16th, 2012  
Great capture!
April 16th, 2012  
Very interesting info!
April 16th, 2012  
Excellent capture!
April 16th, 2012  
Such a great shot, Anne - I think I'm one of the few rodent lovers around! Love this!
April 16th, 2012  
Terrific capture! I do suppose they don't stay in the trees during the day! Like her/his poise!
April 16th, 2012  
I always thought they sounded terribly painful, so never realyl want to find out if it's an accurate assumption LOL
April 16th, 2012  
Did not know they climbed so high
April 16th, 2012  
Great picture of this guy! I like the colours! Lethbridge College is in the city where I live!!
April 16th, 2012  
Neat capture. I don't think I've ever seen a porcupine in the wild. I'm not sure I've ever seen one anywhere.
April 16th, 2012  
I have not seen a porcupine in ages! Love that you caught one. :)
April 16th, 2012  
That is a great close up, Anne. I have never seen one in the wild.
April 16th, 2012  
Fantastic shot! I think they are cute and have sweet little voices, that belie their appearance.
April 16th, 2012  
@lynnb thanks lynn! i haven't looked at the college web site in detail but from what i've seen, it's very good for animal info. sounds like a nice college.
April 17th, 2012  
Awesome capture, Anne!!! We don't have porcupines here.
April 17th, 2012  
Ohhhh! I've never seen one! Fantastic shot - thanks for sharing it!
April 17th, 2012  
i've never seen on on the hoof! really neat... and such interesting info... tx!!
April 17th, 2012  
What a fantastic capture of this porcupine, Anne. I would keep my distance from this guy, for sure.
April 17th, 2012  
he looks sort of cute.......great capture & processing!
April 17th, 2012  
Wow, how amazing to see living in the wild!
April 17th, 2012  
Great shot! Sounds like they're good climbers too! I like his spiky eyebrows (from a distance anyway!)
April 17th, 2012  
Great capture. Very detailed too.
April 17th, 2012  
I have never seen a porcupine. What an amazing find or are they quite common your way? Excellent photo and interesting details, Anne. Thanks!
April 17th, 2012  
Ooh, I didn't know porcupines could climb up trees. Awesome shot!
April 17th, 2012  
definitely needs an orthodontist for braces. this is awesome!
April 17th, 2012  
Great capture! Cute but dangerous.
April 17th, 2012  
excellent spot and shot
April 17th, 2012  
beautiful shot, thanks for sharing it!!
April 17th, 2012  
Not very pretty is she? I'm sure she is plenty interesting, though. Nice shot!
April 17th, 2012  
Good capture!
April 18th, 2012  
i would love to see a real porcupine!!! i love seeing this shot.....going to go check out the others now!
April 18th, 2012  
ohhh, i thought you posted your other pictures in a different album.....but i see now that is a link. thanks for that info!
April 18th, 2012  
great capture Anne ~ don't believe I've ever seen one out in the wild, up close ~ after reading about their quills, don't believe I ever want to! =O
April 18th, 2012  
Wonderful - capture! Never knew they climbed trees :)
April 19th, 2012  
great shot Anne, I've only seen one before and it was more grey. This colour would really blend in with the trees!
April 19th, 2012  
had to fav it , it is so so cute
April 20th, 2012  
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