The porcupine is one of the world's
largest rodents and weigh about 12 kg (26 pounds).
There are about thirty different species of porcupine.
Porcupines have weak eyes and rely entirely on their nose for food
search.
One of the olfactory signals porcupines use is a pungent odor that
lets potential predators know they have raised their quills and
they are not afraid to use them.
Salty is porcupine’s favorite flavor, so it will eat anything
salty, such as axe handles, canoe paddles, etc.
Female porcupines mate once a year, and often the males bring them
into estrus by urinating on them.
Babies are called porcupettes and they are born with soft quills,
which will begin to harden in a few hours to days.
Young porcupine will leave its parents after a few months and
begin solitary life.
Some porcupines have up to 30,000 quills on their body. Porcupines
cannot shoot out their quills, but they will be easily released
when predators touch the animal.