Myths and misunderstandings abound in the natural world and can lead to undesirable outcomes. 

Such is the case when it comes to the quill-pig, more commonly known as the porcupine (they are actually rodents, with no relationship to pigs).

In our knowledge of the natural world, what we don’t know (or what we have been misinformed about via social media or exaggerated claims fueled by fear) can cause harm to the targeted species. 

One very common misperception about porcupines is the erroneous belief that this mostly harmless mammal can throw its quills, thereby impaling a hapless human hiker with painful barbed needles. The truth is: that’s just not true. 

The passive porcupine is quite benign, posing little danger to anyone standing a few feet away. At most, a threatened porcupine can thrash its tail toward a potential predator in a display of aposematism—a form of animal advertising that it is not worth attacking or eating. Such signals benefit both predator and prey by enabling each to avoid potential harm. 

Now, should your dog attempt to sample this slow waddling forest mammal, the canine may indeed end up with a mouthful of quills. This will be no laughing matter as you head to the emergency vet to have the barbed protrusions removed from your agonized mutt’s muzzle, tongue or oral cavity.  

Quills are specialized hairs ranging from one to four inches long, with needle-shaped tips covered in overlapping scales that slant backward and act as barbs. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), when a quill lodges in tissue, actions of the victim’s muscle fibers engage the tips of the scales, drawing the quill inward up to an inch a day. Avoid the agony for all by keeping your dog leashed.

Porcupines are good climbers, and will often scale trees to escape potential harm. They make vocalizations ranging from low grunts to screeches to whines. They can grow to 30 inches in length, weigh up to 20 pounds and have a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. Predators take advantage of the fact that porcupines have no quills on their furred undersides. 

Porcupines can swim, are vegetarians and crave salt. As such, they may use their four orange incisors to gnaw on objects that have been in contact with human perspiration, such as tool handles, ropes, work gloves and leather boots. 

Breeding in the Upper Delaware River region takes place from September into November. Courting can include rubbing noses, chattering teeth, walking on hind feet or displaying weaving body movements. 

Females give birth in April, May or June to fully furred “porcupettes” which weigh about a pound, are able to see and can climb trees and eat solid food within a few days, according to the PGC. 

It is said that a little learning goes a long way. Educate yourself about the animals in our region and share this information with others, especially newcomers and visitors. Two sources to explore are the Pennsylvania Game Commission (www.pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/Pages/default.aspx) and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (www.dec.ny.gov/nature). Both provide information specific to the Upper Delaware region and its wildlife.