Meet the North American Porcupine

The North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) is the only species in its genus, meaning it’s truly one of a kind. This species might be known for its quills, but there is a lot more to these nocturnal rodents than that. Although you may have heard otherwise, the porcupine only uses its quills to defend itself. The porcupine live in forests and woodlands all over Canada and select US states. Listed as “watchlisted” here in Maryland, they can be found in the four most western counties, from Frederick to Garrett. This animal’s diet consists of inner barks of trees, twigs, nuts, and berries and is mainly solitary in nature. The North American Porcupine serves as an important part of the food web and transports nutrients across the forest floor. To learn more about the porcupine, visit https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2023/11/13/native-animal-profile-north-american-porcupine/

This Wildlife Wednesday provided by Zander Hine, Student Board member