Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Title
Porcupines
Document Type
Article
Date of this Version
July 1994
Porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum), sometimes
called “porkies” or “quill pigs,” are heavy-bodied, shortlegged,
slow, and awkward rodents,
with a waddling gait. Adults are typically
25 to 30 inches (64 to 76 cm) long
and weigh 10 to 30 pounds (4.5 to 13.5
kg). They rely on their sharp, barbed
quills (up to 30,000 per individual) for
defense.
The porcupine is a common resident of
the coniferous forests of western and
northern North America. It
wanders widely and is found from
cottonwood stands along prairie river
bottoms and deserts to alpine tundra.
Exclusion:
Fences (small areas).
Tree trunk guards.
Cultural Methods:
Encourage closed-canopy forest
stands.
Repellents:
None are registered.
Some wood preservatives may
incidentally repel porcupines.
Toxicants:
None are registered.
Fumigants:
None are registered.
Trapping:
Steel leghold trap (No. 2 or 3).
Body-gripping (Conibear®) trap
(No. 220 or 330).
Box trap.
Shooting:
Day shooting and spotlighting are
effective where legal.
Other Methods:
Encourage natural predators.
Download
