Porcupines
Gentle giants with 30,000 quills
About Our Porcupines
Despite their prickly appearance, porcupines are gentle, curious animals with amazing adaptations. Our North American porcupines are covered in approximately 30,000 quills that serve as their primary defense mechanism.
Contrary to popular myth, porcupines cannot shoot their quills! The quills detach easily when touched, making predators think twice about bothering them. Each quill has tiny backward-facing barbs that make them difficult to remove.
These nocturnal herbivores are excellent climbers and love munching on tree bark, leaves, and twigs. Watch them waddle around with their adorable gait and learn about these fascinating rodents!
Fun Porcupine Facts
They can't shoot their quills
This is a myth! Quills detach on contact, but they can't be launched like projectiles.
30,000 quills
A single porcupine can have up to 30,000 quills covering its body for protection.
Excellent climbers
Despite their size, porcupines are skilled tree climbers and spend much of their time in branches.
Third largest rodent in North America
Only beavers and capybaras are larger! Porcupines can weigh up to 40 pounds.
Baby porcupines are called porcupettes
They're born with soft quills that harden within hours of birth.
Long lifespan
Porcupines can live up to 15 years in the wild and even longer in captivity.
Photo Gallery
Visit Our Porcupines
Come meet our gentle porcupines and learn the truth about these misunderstood animals!