North American Porcupine
: Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Rodentia : Erethizontidae : Erethizon : dorsatum
Binomial name
Erethizon dorsatum Linnaeus, 1758

The North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), also known as Canadian Porcupine, is a large rodent in the New World porcupine family. The Beaver is the only larger rodent found in North America.

This animal is usually found in coniferous and mixed forested areas in Canada, Alaska and much of the northern and western United States. They are also found in thicketed areas in shrublands, tundra and deserts as far south as northern Mexico. It makes its den in a hole in a trees or in a rocky area.

Porcupines are usually dark brown in colour. They have a chunky body, a small face, short legs and a short thick tail. Their upperparts are covered with thousands of sharp, barbed hollow spines or quills which are used for defense. The quills cannot be thrown, but detach easily and are difficult to remove once lodged in an attacker. The quills are normally flattened against to the body unless the animal is disturbed. The porcupine also swings its quilled tail towards the perceived threat.

These animals are mainly active at night; on summer days, they often rest in trees. During the summer, they eat twigs, roots, stems, berries and other vegetation. In the winter, they mainly eat conifer needles and tree bark. They do not hibernate but do not travel far from their den in winter.

Porcupines breed in the fall and the young porcupine (usually one) is born in the spring with soft quills which harden shortly after birth.

They are considered by some to be as a pest because of the damage that they often inflict on trees and wooden and leather objects. The quills are used by Native Americans to decorate articles such as baskets and clothing. Some people consider them to be edible. Porcupines do not move very fast and are often hit by vehicles while crossing roads. Natural predators include fishers, wolverines and coyotes.