Signs of Porcupines

Porcupines are common in the preserve, even though they aren't commonly seen. However, if you keep a sharp eye out, you can find plenty of evidence that they're around.

Obviously, you'll find tracks in winter, but what about other times of the year? Here are some signs to look for.

I found these discarded quills on the Cakewalk just a few days ago.

They were surprisingly noticeable due to their white color. Porcupine quills can be about twice as long as these ones. If you find some, be careful picking them up. They're needle-sharp on both ends.

Porcupines are messy eaters. They sit high in trees, gnawing on branches and eating the most tender and tasty bits, then dropping the still largely-uneaten branch to the ground. A single porcupine may crop nearly every limb from a medium-sized tree over a period of days, potentially killing it.

This hemlock tree on the Cakewalk was shorn of all its smaller, needle-bearing branches a couple winters ago. It's still alive, though barely.

Look for fresh branches on the ground (still covered in leaves or needles) up to a half-inch or so in diameter.

The cut end will be angled and ragged in appearance.

Of course, what goes in must eventually come back out. Porcupine poops are oval in shape, about an inch long, and look like compressed sawdust. You may find piles of them in dry, sheltered hollows among rocks and boulders. Porcupines don't bother to leave their rocky dens when 'nature calls', so their poops pile up over time.

If the den remains dry, the poops can last for decades.

Some dens are used by generations of porcupines, resulting in poop piles than can be several feet deep.

If you're lucky enough to see an actual porcupine, give it plenty of room. Porcupines can't shoot their quills, but they can flick a quill-laden tail at you with surprising force and speed. Porcupines aren't aggressive, and would much rather waddle away or climb a tree to get away from you. If you're quiet and don't disturb them, you may be able to hear them mumbling quietly to themselves.

If you're very lucky, you'll find a baby porcupine hidden among rocks or tree branches on the ground. Baby porcupines aren't strong enough to climb for a few weeks, so momma leaves them hidden in a secluded spot on the ground while she munches away up in a nearby tree. If you find a youngster, don't be tempted to pick it up. Momma knows where her baby is, and she'll come down for it in the evening. Plus, even though they're adorable, baby porcupines do have sharp quills and sharp teeth.

We've only seen two babies in 30 years. This was one of them, from a couple years ago. It was about the side of a small guinea pig.