"DESCENDING THE DECIDUOUS"

North American Porcupine (5 Photos)

You never can tell which way a porcupine is going to climb, up or down. In this instance, the porcupine climbed down to a lower branch to hang out. And yes, there was some excitement from me that we might make the full trek down to the fallen tree that sits at the bottom of this grove but with a warm sunny afternoon, think this porcupine was just going to take in more rays until dusk.

I try to be always ready for the unexpected but was so very grateful for the photo opportunities that this porcupine presented on its partial descent.  My first rule of wildlife photography is that the animal's welfare & safety are paramount and capturing those golden moments with no interference from the photographer. Yes, there was a lot of mental wishing for that ground shot but I know that by respecting Nature, rewards will come at some future time.

I have included below the link to my previous blog "Someone to Watch Over Me" which highlighted this porcupine,  as I think those words are fitting for all wildlife and something to keep in mind, as National Wildlife Week draws to a close.

https://www.inaturephoto.com/blog/2020/4/-someone-to-watch-over-me---north-american-porcupine

PHOTO #1 - "It's a Long Way Down"

Porcupine (North American)"PREPARING FOR THE DESCENT"

PHOTO #2 - "Don't Look Down, Don't Look Down"

Porcupine (North American)"ALMOST TO THE NEXT BRANCH"

PHOTO #3 - "ALMOST THERE"

Porcupine (North American)"DESCENDING THE DECIDUOUS"

PHOTO #4 - "ALMOST AT THE END OF THE TREK"

PHOTO #5 - "TA-DA & Time for a Pose"