Porcupine - Sierra Club BC
Skip to content
Porcupine

CAN BE FOUND IN:

Porcupine

Erethizon dorsatum 

Appearance

Porcupines have a brown coat of hair that is covered with up to 30,000 sharp quills. These quills can grow up to 12.5 centimetres long. The tips of the quills are covered in barbs that let the quills dig in deeper and firmer when they contact an enemy. Porcupines can grow to 100 centimetres long, and can weigh five and a half kilograms for males and four and a half kilograms for females. 

Range & Habitat

Porcupines are found across Canada and in the western US. They always live in or near stands of trees where there are piles of brush to build their nests. 

Reciprocal relationships

Porcupines play a crucial role in the establishment of forests and the development of ecosystems. Porcupines eat mostly the inner bark of trees, but sometimes tender leaves and stems. They love to chew on leather and glued wood. In doing this, they provide food, such as seeds or fruits, for wildlife below. They effectively help to prune trees, allowing new seedlings to establish.  

Young porcupines are called “porcupettes” and are born with soft quills that harden within an hour of being born. Forest fires, disease, and parasites threaten porcupines. Porcupines are eaten by lynxes, cougars, and bobcats. 

In Secwepemc stories, Porcupine is an important being, who fostered connections across peoples through their perseverance! 

status

COSEWIC: Not Reported 
CDC: Yellow 

more information

If you belong to a First Nation with a story or piece of information not represented here and you would like to share more about this species, please email us at education@sierraclub.bc.ca

photo credit

Canva

Related Species

Filter by Taxonomy

Filter by EcoProvince

American Kestrel

American Kestrel

The American kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America and weighs only 3 or 4 ounces.

American White Pelican

American White Pelican

American white pelicans are some of the largest birds in North America. They hunt together, driving small schools of fish into each other’s bill pouches.

Arctic tern

Arctic tern

Arctic terns are unique birds with gifts of persistence and resourcefulness. These birds must fly great distances, and in doing so they have a diet with a variety of sea life.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald eagles are found all over B.C. and the U.S. The largest populations in North America live in B.C. and Alaska.

Banana Slug

Banana Slug

Banana slugs are important decomposers in our coastal rainforest. They are nocturnal feeders, eating decaying animals, mushrooms, and plants.

Beaver

Beaver

The beaver possesses many gifts! They are adept at swimming, building, and tree chomping.

Bighorn Sheep

Bighorn Sheep

The bighorn sheep are important primary consumers in the food chain. They are vegetarians, eating grasses, bushes and leaves.

Black and White Warbler

Black and White Warbler

These iconic Canadian birds are also called the ‘black and white creeper’ because they creep along tree trunks looking for tasty insects.

Black Bear

Black Bear

Black bears and Pacific salmon play an important part in maintaining our forest ecosystems.

Bocaccio Rockfish

Bocaccio Rockfish

Bocaccio rockfish are important consumers. These fish eat smaller fish such as anchovies, mackerel, squid and other rockfish.

Bonaparte's Gull

Bonaparte's Gull

These gulls nest in large numbers and produce two to three eggs at a time. These gulls are gifted with agility.

Boreal Chickadee

Boreal Chickadee

Boreal chickadees are an important indicator species of boreal ecosystems!