Porcupine picture

[Mossyoak1957]

Saw this guy along the river......he looks like he's ready for Spring.
I didn't know Porcupines could climb trees,seriously.

[RIHMFIRE]

[AJMD429]

I thought they mostly spent their time in trees! None within 500 miles of me, though, so I only know what little I read about them. I'd heard them described as 'tree-top beavers' before.

[Pitchy]

I didn't know Porcupines could climb trees,seriously.

That`s why most people hate them, they chew all the bark off a tree.

[Mossyoak1957]

I didn't know Porcupines could climb trees,seriously.

That`s why most people hate them, they chew all the bark off a tree.

55 years old and I still learn something new everyday........

[vancelw]

They also LOOK a lot heavier than they really are, what with all the quills and hair.
I've seen them way, way up in the tops of pine saplings. You marvel at the tree holding them up.

I've always thought it ironic that the ranchers I know tend to shoot every one they see, because of the damage they might cause a horse, calf, or dog. But they keep the pine trees in check and those same rancher friends hate the pine trees because they choke out grass for the cattle to eat.

Porcupines are odd, in that you may go weeks or months without seeing one in daylight. (You often see them in the road right-of-way at night) Then one day I saw 5 porcupines within an hour. My .30-30 trapper got it's exercise that day. Just keeping with the ranchers wishes, you know.

[harry]

There is a market for porcupine qills and hide. This is one place that sells them, I can't find my link to the buyers but will keep looking.
http://www.naturallist.com/quills.htm

Harry

[2571]

MAJOR problem in timber country -- ringing trees cost bigtime $.

I hate 'em because they get into deer blinds in the off season and totally destroy everything made of wood.. The urinate inside & leave a stench that takes months to air out.

[william iorg]

I've always thought it ironic that the ranchers I know tend to shoot every one they see, because of the damage they might cause a horse, calf, or dog.

Darn things chew on the side of the well house, electrical wiring and PVC pipe. If they just ate trees I would leave them alone but i shoot them off the well house with the 32 H&R Magnum or the 327 Federal.
If you hit one with your truck head straight for the tire store!

[piller]

Do people still use porcupine quills for fishing floats?

[hightime]

I hate them. They wreck my trees and eat my siding. If I see them I shoot them. Just did.
They don't spend much time on the ground.

Owen

[rjohns94]

Keel pic. Won't see them in this back yard nursery

[Batman1939]

Do people still use porcupine quills for fishing floats?

Fishing floats are mostly made from the quills of African Porcupines, which are not closely related to North American Porcupines. Their quills are much larger in diameter (over a quarter inch) and float well. I think I have seen them advertised in some fishing literature.

[Batman1939]

I hate them. They wreck my trees and eat my siding. If I see them I shoot them. Just did.
They don't spend much time on the ground.

Owen

At one time it was against the law in some states (Utah for example) to kill porkys as they were considered to be potential food for a man lost in the woods. It would be simple to kill one using even a stick/stone and with care the animal could be skinned and prepared for food. Of course one high in a tree would be difficult for an unarmed man to get to, but they do also feed on greenery on the ground, even venturing quite far away from trees here in the Arizona desert country during a wet spring when they feed on various shrubs and flowers.

[Old Ironsights]

MAJOR problem in timber country -- ringing trees cost bigtime $.

I hate 'em because they get into deer blinds in the off season and totally destroy everything made of wood.. The urinate inside & leave a stench that takes months to air out.

Why are you complaining? It's Natural Cover Scent!

[mav]

What river is that Mossyoak? I don't know about the rest of the year, but fall and winter I believe they den underground, rock piles mostly. I've see their "sawdust pellets" near their front doors.

[TomF]

I have removed porcupine quills from the faces of livestock. Seems the livestock may be curious about the prickle pig and when they are close enough to investigate, they get nailed. They are becoming a nuisance in central Texas.

TomF

[WCF3030]

I didn't know Porcupines could climb trees,seriously.

That`s why most people hate them, they chew all the bark off a tree.

And eat the antler drops during the winter and spring.
We have way to many.

[kimwcook]

I've had to pull quills out of both of my horses muzzles. They obviously were educated at the same time because I went out one morning to feed'em and there they were looking like Grandpa Moses with white beards. They didn't appreciate me pulling the quills, but it had to be done. My relatives always said not to kill a porcupine. They were easily killed if one needed to, to survive. If they were tearing my place apart, well sorry. They're gone.

[Mossyoak1957]

What river is that Mossyoak? I don't know about the rest of the year, but fall and winter I believe they den underground, rock piles mostly. I've see their "sawdust pellets" near their front doors.

It's along the Juniata River down near Germany Valley if you know where that is.
I did see one while Bear hunting this year also.

[Blaine]

Didn't the NAs throw them in the fire to burn off the quills, and eat them?

[mav]

Mossy,
I'm not familiar with German Valley. Is that near Mount Union? Were you out muskie fishing?

[willygene]

I hunted in val verde county last year on the pecos river saw more of them than we did deer. they get run over in the road there like rabbits in east texas.

[bdhold]

I don't think I'd argue with them about climbing a tree.
Nice photo.

[hightime]

I wish I could eradicate them from my tree farm, but it's impossible. They're hard to find in the tree tops of pines. Tracking snow might be the best time, as they do move on the ground and then you can find'em by they're tracks. Nice target for the SA 45 Colt.
They chewed though the siding of a couple of my buildings too.

Owen