When Are North American Porcupines Most Active? (Night, Day, Weather, Seasons)

North American Porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) can be found in the western and northeastern regions of the United States of America, Canada, and Alaska. Porcupines are adaptable animals and can survive in different types of ecosystems. The places where these spiny animals can be found have changing seasons throughout the year and the porcupine’s behavior changes …

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Are North American Porcupines Going Extinct? (Stable Today But Facing Some Risks)

Floofmania is happy to tell you that the North American porcupine population overall is healthy and fairly stable. In spite of the changes in their habitats, conflict with human populations, and their low reproductive rate, this quilled rodent proves itself to be a surprisingly hardy creature. Did you know that the earliest fossils of the …

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Can I Legally Own a North American Porcupine In My State or Country?

Normally, the North American porcupine is spotted throughout various states and countries as a wild animal. While they are not related to hedgehogs, porcupines look like bigger hedgehogs that could be household pets! The North American Porcupine is legal to own in most states in the USA, except a few like California or Georgia. If …

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North American Porcupines In The Winter (Food, Behavior & Adaptations)

Sub-zero temperatures, blizzards, and a poor diet of tree bark and needles – these are some of the harsh conditions the North American porcupine has to endure every winter. This slow-moving, solitary herbivore doesn’t look like it has a lot of tools to survive the months-long extreme cold in its forest habitats. But porcupines truly …

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North American Porcupines And Their Odor (A Smelly Rodent!)

North American porcupines are best known for their quills but they have another distinct characteristic that most people don’t know about, which is their unpleasant, pungent odor!  Today, Floofmania will cover porcupine smells and the role they play in their daily life and survival.  Are North American Porcupines Smelly? North American porcupines are stinky little …

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The North American Porcupine’s Social Behavior (They’re Quite Solitary)

Aloof, shy, and independent. These are not the usual words you think about when you see the roly-poly porcupine waddling from tree to tree. In the wild, the North American porcupine is prickly around other creatures (even its own kind!) and is extraordinarily self-reliant.  Are they the ultimate introverts or loners of the forests? How …

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What Do North American Porcupines Eat? (Needs, Preferences, & More)

Amongst the 12 porcupine species, the North American porcupine is the most common in the New World porcupine family. This had led people to wonder about what they eat. North American porcupines eat vegetation, such as vegetables, roots, bark, grass, fruits, and more. While some have been spotted gnawing on animal bones, they are mostly …

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The North American Porcupine’s Teeth, Bite, And Jaw

While porcupines are most well-known for their defensive quills, they’re still rodents, and like all rodents, they are great at gnawing. This naturally leads many to wonder about a porcupine’s teeth and jaw and what a porcupine uses its teeth for. Porcupines use their teeth to eat tough materials like wooden stems and bark since …

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North American Porcupines As Pets? (Here’s What You Should Know)

North American porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum), native to North America, are the second-largest rodent after the North American beaver. Their coats’ colors range from brownish-yellow to black, with white highlights emphasizing the quills. Because of these quills, North American porcupines have gained a bad reputation, and many are scared of their spikes. This doesn’t imply they’re …

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How Do North American Porcupines Fight and Protect Themselves and Their Young?

Porcupines are the second-largest rodent in North America. One of their most striking features is all of the quills covering their bodies. Upon looking at their bodies, you may find yourself wondering “how do North American porcupines fight and protect themselves and their young?“ If this is a question that’s been burning on your mind, …

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Dangers to Porcupines (Predators and Other Threats)

Few animals are as instantly recognizable as the North American porcupine. With their massive quills, these rodents boast one of nature’s most impressive defenses. Although, you might be surprised to learn it can’t protect them from everything. The North American porcupine faces several dangers ranging from urban sprawl to predators. As a result, some conservationists …

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Where Do Porcupines Live? (All US States And Around The World)

The porcupine’s range includes nearly every continent. Porcupines are classified by location. These classifications are called Old World and New World porcupines. Several differences exist between the two regional porcupine types, including sleeping preferences, den-making rituals, and more. Mainly, these differences are a result of the environment. This article discusses where porcupines live. It also …

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North American Porcupine Mating, Babies, and Reproduction (Your Questions Answered)

Porcupines mate once a year, each summer through fall. After a roughly 200 day gestation period, porcupines have one porcupine baby. Female porcupines raise their babies independently, without the help of their male partners.  This article discusses porcupine mating practices, reproduction, and raising porcupine babies. How Do Porcupines Mate? Porcupines are monogamous animals that find …

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North American Porcupines and Their Digging Behavior (dens, Digging for Food, Gaining Access, Etc)

Porcupines are excellent diggers who rely on their sharp claws for making underground dens and scavenging food.  According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, these mammals are herbivores and are experts at digging to find food underground. In most cases, the porcupine will establish a burrow and travel as little distance as possible …

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Porcupine Sounds And Vocalizations and What They Mean (They Can Talk!)

Porcupines make many noises. The most common noises that porcupines make are squeaking and squealing noises, which are used to communicate with other porcupines. Many people believe that porcupines sound like humans as they make noises and that they even have the capability of learning the human language. The pitch and tone of the porcupine …

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