"1-2-3 DOWN THE TREE"

Porcupine - 5 Photos

I spotted a porcupine last Spring who was obviously pregnant (Photo #1). Although close to delivery, she had obviously not given birth as she spent an entire day hanging out in a tree and didn't retire to her den until late in the evening. If there had been a porcupette, she would have been nursing at least sometime during the day.

Didn't see her again until late October 2024 and there was no sign of a small porcupine with her.

Kept an eye on the area over the Winter & earlier this Spring but no re-appearance, even with the tempting new buds on the trees.

And then early this month, I spotted a porcupine in a tall tree, who I thought was the female adult. Went into the woods to investigate and while watching one porcupine in a tree, another much larger one appeared in a nearby tree. Fully mature porcupines do not cohabitate. Adult males & females only get together during the mating period and then for the rest of the year, they remain solitary. The only exception is a mother & offspring.

So this definitely was Mum & her youngster, born the Spring 2024. The youngsters I've seen in the past, have spent at least 12 months with their mothers. Then they leave the area & find a home of their own.

This young porcupine stayed in his/her tree until early afternoon and then descended to a safe location, most likely to rest until past dusk (Photo #2 through Photo #6).

His/her mother, however, stayed in her tree (Photo #7) and was still there when I left just before dark. 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7