"GOLDEN GIRL"

Porcupine (North American) - 5 Photos

It's October and most likely the porcupines are looking for a partner with whom to mate, albeit a very short interval when they look for a companion. Other than the time when mothers and youngsters are together, porcupines lead solitary lives, except for this one brief period.

The porcupine who appears in the photos below is definitely female. I've seen her in years past, with two youngsters (born years apart), as well having seen her in the stage just prior to giving birth, with her mammary glands extremely apparent. 

She currently appears to be advertising her availability & location, by vigorously rubbing her scent on tree limbs where she had been napping. 

And late in the afternoon, having had her time in the sun, she decided it was time to head down (Photo #1 through Photo #4). I've noticed on other occasions that once she makes up her mind to make the move, it's done at speed and this time was no exception. Porcupines might look awkward & clumsy but when necessary, like beavers, they can travel at a pace. 

So one moment, she was climbing down the tree, the next she had disappeared through the tall grasses & shrubbery only to re-appear on a log some distance away (Photo #5). 

And if the bulk of her coat is anything to go by, Winter might be a cold one this year.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5