North American Porcupine
I used to be terrified of porcupines, burdened by the idea that they could shoot their quills at me. Since my friend broke the news and that weight was lifted, I have been obsessed with these defensive, waddling creatures. I almost walked right by this guy on the Salmon Creek Dam trail, but a random conversation about volleyball led me to pretend to set a ball with my hands. The circle I made with my hands fell perfectly on this porcupine's hunched body! It surprised me and I had to get a picture.
The porcupine's scientific name is Erethizon dorsatum, which means “quill pig". (Chesapeake) Following beavers, porcupines are the largest rodents found in Alaska and North America as a whole. They are covered in quills and hair, as well as a "thick layer of body fat" that keeps them warm in the winter (North American Porcupine Species Profile). Porcupines are not aggressive but are defensive when they are attacked. When a predator or unassuming creature comes near them, they emit an unpleasant smell to repel their attacker. If that doesn't work, they strategically move their bodies to insert their quills into their attacker. (Chesapeake). Quills are actually just barbed hairs. Porcupines have around 30,000 quills. Porcupine weight ranges from 15-30 lbs for males, while females often weigh around 2- 4 lbs less than males (North American Porcupine Species Profile). They can live up to 30 years old. To my surprise, the main diet of porcupines is various parts of trees! They eat various tree bark, needles, and leaves. They also tend to feed on dead animal bones "to obtain sodium and calcium" (North American Porcupine Species Profile). Porcupines make many sounds, "ranging from whimpers to screams" (North American Porcupine Species Profile). Porcupines only have one baby in their lifetime, called a "porcupette" (Porcupine - Wildlife Viewing).
Porcupines are used all over Alaska. Athabaskans use porcupine quills for decoration (North American Porcupine Uses). Other native groups use porcupine quills for clothing, art, and jewelry. They often dye the quills for these purposes. Some people eat porcupines while others do not enjoy their meat (North American Porcupine Uses).
Works Cited
Chesapeake Bay Program. “North American Porcupine.” Chesapeake Bay, www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/field-guide/entry/north-american-porcupine#:~:text=The%20porcupine%27s%20latin%20name%2C%20Erethizon,with%20beavers%20as%20number%20one. Accessed 5 Oct. 2023.
Prescott, Vivian Faith. “Planet Alaska: Gifts from the Porcupine.” Juneau Empire, 28 Nov. 2019.
"North American Porcupine Species Profile". Alaska Department of Fish and Game, www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=northamericanporcupine.main. Accessed 5 Oct. 2023.
"North American Porcupine Uses". Alaska Department of Fish and Game, www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=northamericanporcupine.uses#:~:text=Natives%20used%20to%20kill%20porcupines,%2C%20earrings%2C%20and%20artistic%20items. Accessed 5 Oct. 2023.
”Porcupine - Wildlife Viewing". Alaska Department of Fish and Game, www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=viewing.landmammals&species=porcupine#:~:text=The%20porcupine%20is%20found%20throughout,Lawrence%20islands. Accessed 5 Oct. 2023.