Porcupine up a tree in Harpswell (2002)
Porcupines, a large rodent, found in Maine are good climbers, spending much of their time in trees. Some even have tails that help in gripping tree trunks to help in climbing. The North American porcupine is the only species that lives in Maine. It is the largest of all porcupines. A single animal may have 30,000 or more quills on their bodies. These animals use their large front teeth to obtain and eat wood, sometimes parts of log cabins!
They also eat natural bark and stems, and have been known to chew on canoe paddles. Maine porcupines also eat fruit, leaves, and springtime buds.
They are nocturnal creatures, moving about at night and sleeping in the daytime. When walking in the Maine woods, be sure to look up from time to time. You might spot a black ball in the branches.
Porcupine (black spot) at the base of a tree
Same porcupine moving up the tree (2019)
Porcupines do not throw their quills. When predators get too close they stick to the quills. From head to body the North American porcupines (those in Maine) range from 25 to 36 inches. Another 8 to 10 inches add more length to this animal that weighs 12 to 35 pounds.
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