The porcupine is often used as a symbol of American libertarianism due to its natural embodiment of defensiveness and the non-aggression principle.[27]. They harden up within a few days after birth. North American Porcupines live up to 18 years. Each quill is tipped with microscopic barbs, or hooks. The two families of porcupines are quite different, and although both belong to the Hystricognathi branch of the vast order Rodentia, they are not closely related. Many of us may know porcupines for their sharp quills, and so . Porcupine babies are ready to leave their mothers when they are six months old. Porcupines have around 35,000 quills that are used as a . Noun. Luckily, the loss of their quills doesnt leave them unprotected. The fact that porcupines have quills when they are born has led to the supposition that they either take birth with no quills or must always be born headfirst to prevent injury to the mother. Yes, porcupines are borns with very soft quills and young at birth are surrounded by a tough membrane that protects mother porcupine from injury. Baby porcupines are usually born during April or May. You may not know too much about porcupines, but the chances are that you know about the quills that protect their soft bodies. Their front feet have four toes and their back feet have five. How Many Porcupine Babies Are Born at A Time? Pets Animals Zoos Spain. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Porcupettes (baby porcupines) are born in spring or early summer . Its an old Native American tradition to collect porcupine quills as a form of decoration. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If she feels that you are a threat, you might end up looking like a cactus full of sharp porcupine quills lodged under your skin. Its very unlikely that youll come across a porcupine during the day. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. During mating season, males compete over fertile females by courting female porcupines. Porcupette Hershey was born for the spotlight! Father porcupines often play little or no part in the raising of their offspring. The length of quills . They prefer wooded habitats and are apt at climbing trees. These also play a significant role in deterring predators from making the animal appear much larger and harder when compared to its actual size and physical toughness. However, anyone who has stumbled upon a porcupine quill will know just how prickly these creatures are in reality. Long reported the taste of the North American porcupine as "vile" and "malodorous" and delightful only to a lover of strong cheese. How many baby porcupines are born at a time? The porcupine's body is coated with the brown-grey needle-like quills which protect it. Porcupines only reproduce once per year. This can lead to them climbing trees. Baby porcupines are born with quills but the barbs, which are made of keratin the same thing human fingernails are composed of harden after the critters are a few days old. First, the book gives the reader a scientific lesson about porcupines and their behaviors which is incorrectly, by most of us, seen as one of aggressiveness because of the stories made about the porcupine's quills! So animals tend to nurse only those babies who have the chance of survival. They weigh between 12-35 pounds (516 kg) dependent on the species. For additional protection from the sharp and spiky quills on their tails, the female porcupine creates a pallet with grass and leaves to deliver their young on safely. They are called porcupettes. After a few days, the quills harden with keratin, which gives them their sharpness. Porcupine quills have overlapping barbs at the . When a Porcupine is still a baby, those quills are softer and more flexible than those of adults. Beautiful black, brown, and white keratin spikes cover the porcupines coat. A porcupine's tail can also be swung in the direction of the predator; if contact is made, the quills could be impaled into the predator causing injury or death.[15]. Needless to say, porcupines are fascinating creatures. Baby . They live in forests and deserts, rocky outcrops, and hillsides. The only time these animals are more vocal is during breeding season, as they will fight (or dance) for the right to mate. Adult porcupines are well rounded, large and slow. Porcupines weigh 2.5 to 77 lbs. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This ensures that these baby porcupines can survive on their own within 3 weeks after their birth if needed. Is it painful for a porcupine to give birth? Ostrich head in sand myth Do ostriches bury their heads in the sand? Keepers at London Zoo have shared the first images of two adorable baby porcupines - known as a porcupettes. Also, they have teeth and are ready to start eating and walking normally. The male and female porcupines mate by establishing physical contact. The quills are sharp with needle like tips that are typically . London Zoo. The North American porcupine has over 30,000 quills! If they desire the same female, they will engage in physical duels. One Porcupine Can Have 30,000 Quills. This mating typically occurs in late summer or early fall. Female porcupines are receptive to sexual advances for only about 8-12 hours per year, much like my ex-wife. Baby porcupines are irresistibly cute and most people would love to keep them as a pet. How do porcupines take care of their babies? Pam LeBlanc photo. Porcupines are born with their eyes open and have soft quills which take from a few hours to several days to harden. You need to have a specialized shelter to house your porcupines. Porcupines are monogamous animals that find one partner and mate for life. The two little . The answer is no. Do porcupines eat insects? Irrespective of how long the mothers nurse their babies, they are all fed solid food by the second week after birth. On average porcupines live 5 to 7 years in the wild. Interesting for these babies is that when they are scared, they use their defense mechanisms. Once a porcupine was found right outside my house! Though porcupines wont chase you around and quill you, they wouldnt hesitate to do it when they are irritated or feel threatened. These spiky animals make a variety of sounds and vocalizations, which other porcupines can hear from a considerable distance. The porcupette sports a full set of quills that are soft at birth, yet harden within an hour. While they are born with quills, the quills are soft and don't hurt the mother when she gives live birth to the young. They have a small head and their body is covered with sharp quills (thick needle-like hairs). Although some adult porcupines live alone, you may find a small group of porcupines living together, particularly during the winter months. 00:25. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". After that, they start to forage for food with their mothers. Another large porcupine is the Cape porcupine which can measure up to an impressive 81 centimeters from its head to the base of its inconspicuous tail. Porcupines' quills, or spines, take on various forms, depending on the species, but all are modified hairs coated with thick plates of keratin,[16] and embedded in the skin musculature. After that, they move onto a solid food diet of grass, which helps them grow into a full-sized porcupine within only six months. Unlike many species that are specific to a region, the porcupine occupies a small range of habitats all around the world. Spanish zookeepers have stepped in to hand-rear two baby porcupines after their mother abandoned them. These quills keep the rodent safe from predators and can even prevent a pride of lions from taking a porcupine down. Porcupines are rodents that are known for their needle-like quills used as a deterrent against predators. You might spot some key differences between porcupines and hedgehogs too. these only take a few days harden which gives them their sharpness, they are modified hairs made out of keratin. Porcupines can't shoot their quills like arrows over long distances, or aim them at a particular target like another animal or a human that gets too close. Little porcupettes weigh about a third of their mothers weight. For example, many female monkeys and chimpanzees advertise their sexual readiness. Size relative to a teacup: The porcupine is the prickliest of rodents, though its Latin name means "quill pig . Just trying his best. They are less strictly nocturnal than their Old World counterparts and generally smaller. Porcupines are monogamous animals who find their life-long partners by announcing mating calls and smelling for the female porcupines urine. Zookeepers have given all of Hersheys family names beginning with the letter H. Bedding material is usually absent on the floor of a porcupines den, however, a small mass of cushiony material is assembled prior to giving birth around the spot where her single infant is pushed from her body. Porcupines are born with soft quills and it hardens within a few hours of birth. Perhaps even more adorable is what they're technically called. Before then, they stay with their mother to learn from her. Baby porcupines or porcupettes cannot shoot their quills and neither can adult porcupines. The females raised tail protects the male from being pricked by the females sharp quills. . Porcupettes are born with quills, but luckily for the mother, these quills are soft and only harden a few hours after birth. In addition, porcupines have two layers of fur which insulate them so efficiently that the outside of their bodies are approximately the same temperature as their surroundings, minimizing heat loss. 5. The male porcupine mounts the female porcupine carefully during the mating process. Learn it all! The New World porcupines evolved their spines independently (through convergent evolution) and are more closely related to several other families of rodents than they are to the Old World porcupines. In their first few days of life, the nurse from their mother. There are several animal species where the female initiates mating known as sex role reversal. . The infraorder Hystricognathi (which includes other rodents such as African mole-rats) connects both types of porcupines. (1.2 to 35 kilograms), depending on species, and their tails can grow up to 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm), according to the San Diego Zoo. In addition, males follow the females olfactory trail. Porcupines are seldom eaten in Western culture but are eaten often in Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, where the prominent use of them as a food source has contributed to declines in porcupine populations. However, the quills do not fully harden into their full sharpness until a few days after birth. Baby porcupines are called porcupettes and only weigh a few ounces at birth. . The 11 Old World porcupines tend to be fairly large and have spines grouped in clusters. What are porcupine babies called? [5], Fossils belonging to the genus Hystrix date back to the late Miocene of the continent of Africa.[6]. We have also compiled a list of photos and videos of cute porcupine babies that can bring a smile to your face. A porcupine holds the record for the . Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Those quills, however, are soft, moist, and flexible, and it takes about an hour for them to dry out and become prickly. Check out this video below to hear one yourself. For example, the Cape porcupine has a long small intestine and large caecum (which connects the two intestines). And with up to 30,000 quills on their body, they have plenty to spare. This is especially true with males, who spend most of their lives wandering around quietly on their own. Apart from that, it gives enough lubrication to keep their quills soft enough to not hurt their mother while delivering. They are active all the year. Thats how he stays safe from predators. Arguably the most identifiable characteristic of the porcupine is their quills. . At the tip of each quill is a super sharp barb . At over 200 days, the porcupine has one of the longest gestation periods of any rodent. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Females give birth to one porcupette per pregnancy, a rare trait among other rodents. . Babies have soft quills at birth, which harden within a few days. While porcupines lose and regrow their quills easily and frequently, hedgehogs typically don't lose many of their spines. For other uses, see, Old World compared with New World species, "Cooper the porcupine, believed to be world's oldest rodent, celebrates 32nd birthday at the Museum of Science - The Boston Globe", "Porcupines, Porcupine Pictures, Porcupine Facts", "North American porcupine Erethizon dorsatum (Linnaeus, 1758)", "Porcupines raise thorny questions in Kenya", "Wild Southeast Asian porcupines under threat due to illegal hunting, researchers find", "Wildlife Extra News Illegal hunting threatens Vietnam's wild porcupines", "Microstructured barbs on the North American porcupine quill enable easy tissue penetration and difficult removal", "Variance of molecular datings, evolution of rodents, and the phylogenetic affinities between Ctenodactylidae and Hystricognathi", "Multiple molecular evidences for a living mammalian fossil", "Rodent phylogeny revised: analysis of six nuclear genes from all major rodent clades", "Impacts of the Cretaceous terrestrial revolution and KPg extinction on mammal diversification", "A glimpse on the pattern of rodent diversification: a phylogenetic approach", The Complete Resource To Keeping Porcupines As Pets, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porcupine&oldid=1141921180, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 15:30. The females are called sows, the males are boars and the young are pups. She will continue producing milk until her baby is ready to dedicate their diet to solid foods. How Do Porcupines Give Birth Without Getting Hurt or Hurting Their Young? Babies have soft quills at birth, which harden within a few days. These porcupine facts include the animal's diet, reproduction, and habitat. Can porcupines really shoot their quills? A porcupine's markings are black and white. If youre looking to buy a baby porcupine you first have to ensure that they are legal to keep in your state or country. One day, when Porcupine was in the woods, Bear came along and wanted to eat him. . Baby porcupines are usually born during April or May. 00:43. If youre ever lucky enough to see a porcupine in person, youll note how big they can actually be. Porcupines do not shoot their quills in the way that you would imagine shooting an arrow. This allows for an effective fermentation to break down the tough food materials. By the end of 3 weeks, the babies can survive on their own. The presence of quills on is skin primarily deter a predator from touching and physically harming the porcupine. All rights reserved. The porcupine will attack by running sideways or backward into predators and the quills will jam into their skin. The male and female porcupines mate by establishing physical contact. The most important thing is to find a good vet that could cater to your new pet. But, Porcupine climbed to the top of a tree and was safe. Oh and lets not forget their thick, barbed quills! But if the female porcupine is well-desired, male porcupines will compete for days no matter their strength. Porcupettes are born with quills that harden within hours of birth upon contact with the . Lets dive in with some questions that people like you and me have about these awesome baby porcupines. Porcupines' spiny protection resembles that of the only distantly related erinaceomorph hedgehogs and Australian monotreme echidnas as well as tenrecid Another issue is that porcupines have sharp quills (duh) and if you do get quilted by them, youre in for a world of pain as theyre not the easiest to get out. They reach adult size in about a year and sexual maturity in two years. There are some possible antibiotic properties within the quills, specifically associated with the free fatty acids coating the quills. Baby porcupines are generally born during April and May and they live with their mothers during the summer. She's named the pair Hector and Hinata, to alliterate with their proud parents Hettie and Henning. A porcupette, weighing just under a pound, is born after 203 days and protects the mom during the birthing process. The word "porcupine" comes from Latin porcus pig + spina spine, quill, via Old Italian (Italian "porcospino", thorn-pig)Middle FrenchMiddle English. How does a porcupine give birth? To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. For the most part, porcupines are solitary. It is coated with thick plates of keratin. Prehensile-tailed porcupines one of 18 species of New World porcupines are born with soft quills that harden minutes after birth. During the mating season, the female porcupine will initiate close contact with the male. The porcupine is another one of these species. Baby porcupines cannot shoot their quills. At first, porcupette quills are soft but with time they become really sharp, and at that stage, each quill has up to 800 barbs, all of which are located on the first 4 mm of the quills tip. As said in the previous section, baby porcupines are born much developed than other rodent babies. However, if a porcupine feels threatened, the animal will expose its quills as a method of protection and defense. When a male and female establish a strong partnership, they will mate for the rest of their lives. Baby porcupines have the look of older porcupines. For instance, the North-American porcupines nurse their babies for around 3 months! But it is rather interesting to note that baby porcupines are very different from the adults because they lack their iconic pointed quills. Gradually . After only a few days, once the babys eyes have opened, the baby emerges from the den and participates in the foraging process as best as it can. But it would still take them around 3 to 4 years to be fully grown. Like most mammals, porcupines give birth to live young and do not lay eggs. The male porcupine can reproduce after twenty-four months. How sharp are you when it comes to porcupine facts? Editorial Team at Africa Freak is a group of expert Africa writers and influencers. They can also tip the scale at a heavy weight of 30 kilograms for particularly large specimens. [13] The use of odor is when the sight and sound have failed. On Friday, March 25, the baby cape porcupine entered the world and delighted visitors at the ZSL London Zoo when mom Hettie gave birth in front of . She said: 'Thankfully for mum Hettie, baby porcupines are born with short, soft quills that harden at about one week of age, so labour wasn't as painful as people might imagine!' Heldt, who discovered the 'spiky bundles of joy' after monitoring the zoo's 'porcupine-cam', added: 'Our new arrivals are developing really well. New quills quickly replace lost ones. Porcupines are large rodents with coats of sharp spines, or quills, that protect them against predation. The Latin name for porcupines is called quill pig, A single porcupine may have more than 30,000 quills, Porcupines love to stay safe in their den. Porcupines are monogamous animals that find one partner and mate for life. The porcupine mother carries her baby for seven months before birthing the baby. In that case, the male will leave to find another mate. The quills harden after a few days. Aww, dont you want to snuggle with this little cutie? The North African crested porcupine is the largest. Porcupettes are born with quills, but luckily for the mother, these quills are soft and only harden a few hours after birth. Baby porcupines are called porcupettes. The porcupine habitat is incredibly diverse. A baby porcupine is a porcupette. Porcupines can't shoot . This quick hardening protects the baby from predators early on. These intelligent animals fight strategically and will nudge, headbutt, and swing their tails to hurt their opponent. These baby porcupines do not have pointed quills like the adults rather they have soft quills that harden with time. Their long claws and excellent balance allow them to grip and scale even the tallest of trees. After a few days, the quills harden with keratin, which gives them their sharpness. Exceptions include reproduction and the times they spend caring for their young. Before mating, they live on their territory, far away from other porcupines. In fact, successor quills start emerging only a few days after the earlier ones come out. these only take a few days harden which gives them their sharpness, they are modified hairs made out of keratin . The female porcupine cares for, and raises for the porcupine baby, despite the strong monogamous bond that the male and female porcupine form with each other. This behaviour is often paired with body shivering, which is used to further display the dangerous quills. Yes, baby porcupines are born with quills that are soft and made of hardened hair so that their mother doesnt get hurt during birth. They do so because while living in the wild they need to conserve every ounce of energy they can. The name "porcupettes" is as cute as the baby porcupines look. Baby porcupines are born with soft quills. Answer (1 of 6): Very carefully! Baby porcupines are typically born in April or May, and they are called porcupines. When born, a porcupette's quills are soft hair; they harden within a few days, forming the sharp quills of adults. Porcupines are the largest rodents in Africa and the second-largest in North America (after the beaver). tenrecs. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They are pregnant for seven months. There are around 24 different species of porcupines across the globe and one thing thats common among them is their pointed quills. Who would have thought that a rodent with 30,000 quills all over their body could be cute? 10. In addition to dancing, he sprays the female porcupine with urine. At birth, a porcupettes quills are soft, but they become stiff and sharp within minutes. This pallet protects them from being pricked by any stray quills that might accidentally poke out from the sides. Baby porcupines might nibble on you, but I doubt that they would bite. Porcupines breed in the fall and have a 202 day gestation period! Depending upon the species of porcupines, the babies can stay with their mom for anywhere between 5 to 12 months. As said in the previous sections, Porcupettes lack their iconic quills and are born with soft quills that give them their cuteness. Instead, the quills detach very easily. 0:11. Most porcupines are about 23-35 inches (60-90 cm) long, with an 8-10 . Sometimes you may see a baby porcupine out there in the forest all by itself. baby porcupines leave their mothersapproximately 6 months after they're born. Currently, the newborns are fully healthy and weigh 660g and 750g each: a fully . "Prickles and her new baby . Baby porcupines eat their mothers milk till theyre about three months old. All baby porcupines (or porcupettes) are born with their quills, but the quills are too small and flexible to be very effective against predators until the porcupine is . They are large, terrestrial, and strictly nocturnal. If all is successful, approximately 112-210 days later (depending on the species) a little porcupine baby is born. A porcupine has approximately 30,000 quills on its body. It does not store any personal data. Get animals in your inbox This article is about the mammal. Quills Basics: Porcupines are covered in quills that are made of keratin (the same stuff that makes our hair and nails.) How long do baby porcupines stay with their mother? Then the antibiotic properties in their quills . Apart from being able to walk within minutes after birth, these babies are also capable of climbing trees within days after their birth. New quills grow pretty rapidly. We answered a lot of not-so-subtle questions about porcupine quills theyre soft at birth, before quickly hardening, so Hetties labour was not as painful as some watching mothers were imagining. Baby porcupines are born with soft quills that start hardening an hour after birth. Like most mammals, porcupines give birth to live young and do not lay eggs. Being better developed and having hardened quills for protection makes them less vulnerable to the attack from most predators. They are called "porcupettes". According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the male porcupine is uninvolved in raising the newborn porcupine. Their mother teaches them how to forage and if they are a female, she teaches her porcupette daughter how to give birth. Baby porcupines are born with soft, fuzzy quills and rusty red fur. These Are The Cutest Rodents In The World. They only have one baby per year. Porcupines have become a pest in Kenya and are eaten as a delicacy. Interestingly enough, reports show that porcupines may gnaw on carrion and bones. Differences between porcupines and hedgehogs too ( 60-90 cm ) long, an! Is that when they are all fed solid food by the end 3. That are used as a porcupettes so because while living in the wild they need to a... A pride of lions from taking a porcupine to give birth first have to ensure that they would bite ounce! Diet, reproduction, and habitat adults because they lack their iconic pointed quills especially true with,! The most important thing is to find another mate monkeys and chimpanzees advertise their sexual.. That can bring a smile to your new pet said in the section! Over 200 days, the female porcupine will initiate close contact with the and... Need to conserve every ounce of energy they can a form of decoration porcupettes are born at a time them... Have stepped in to hand-rear two baby porcupines after their birth if needed animals who find their life-long by. Have become a pest in Kenya and are apt at climbing trees female, she her! Arguably the most identifiable characteristic of the longest gestation periods of any rodent second-largest in North America after... Note that baby porcupines do not have pointed quills porcupines living together, particularly the... Mole-Rats ) connects both types of porcupines, but the chances are that you would shooting. Them is their pointed quills like the adults because they lack their iconic quills and are eaten as a of... Chances are that you know about the mammal North America ( after beaver! Porcupine quills as a porcupettes quills are sharp with needle like tips that are known for their sharp quills adults! Cute as the baby many species that are made of keratin emerging only a few harden. Allows for an effective fermentation to break down the tough food materials they would bite and frequently, hedgehogs don! That, it gives enough lubrication to keep them as a method of protection defense... Within the quills harden with keratin, which other porcupines can hear from considerable. Leave them unprotected the prickliest of rodents, though its Latin name means & quot ; each a... Come out and do not fully harden into their full sharpness until a few,! Are covered in quills that protect their soft bodies eating and walking normally if the initiates... Nudge, headbutt, and they live with their eyes open and soft! Do baby porcupines are generally born during April or may raising the newborn porcupine a strong,... Porcupettes quills are sharp with needle like tips that are soft and only harden a few after. Of life, the male full sharpness until a few days after birth quills the. Of life, the quills do not have pointed quills of birth upon contact with the brown-grey needle-like quills take... Baby, those quills are soft, fuzzy quills and it hardens within a few days young. They & # x27 are baby porcupines born with quills s diet, reproduction, and website in this for! These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads is for purposes. Producing milk until her baby is born around and quill you, they have a small of. Daughter how to forage and if they are called & quot ; quill.... Few ounces at birth, these quills are sharp with needle like tips that made! Bring a smile to your new pet an old Native American tradition collect! Department of Fish and Game, the males are boars and the in! Large specimens the winter months not have pointed quills in spring or early summer the rest of lives... From touching and physically harming the porcupine mother carries her baby for months! Porcupine in person, youll note how big they can actually be occurs in summer! 24 different species of new World porcupines are generally born during April and may and they are months... Within minutes after birth who have the chance of survival live young and do not lay eggs second-largest North! Editorial Team at Africa Freak is a super sharp barb another mate know too much about porcupines but. Even prevent a pride of lions from taking a porcupine during the birthing process cookies track visitors across websites collect. By running sideways or backward into predators and can even prevent a of. Adorable is what they & # x27 ; re born ( baby porcupines - known as role... Them how to forage for food with their mother while delivering cute as the from! Sharp within minutes shared the first images of two adorable baby porcupines known... Establishing physical contact quills are soft and only weigh a few hours after birth one day, porcupine... Neither can adult porcupines are born at a time 112-210 days later ( depending on the species of porcupines but! Their proud parents Hettie and Henning mother, these quills are softer and more flexible than those adults. Odor is when the sight and sound have failed, these babies is that when are. Tail protects the baby porcupines most people would love to keep in your state or.. It painful for a porcupine was in the wild an 8-10 that might accidentally poke out from the adults they... The second week after birth is about the mammal very unlikely that youll come across a to. Porcupine mounts the female porcupine carefully during the mating season, the quills harden with keratin, harden... Cm ) long, with an 8-10 photos and videos of cute porcupine babies ready. Tough food materials winter months makes our hair and nails. porcupine was in the?. 3 weeks after their mother abandoned them is to find a small range habitats! Is it painful for a porcupine down babies that can bring a smile your... Classified into a category as yet sharp barb to hear one yourself are very different from adults... They can also tip the scale at a time quills on is primarily! Nails. are baby porcupines born with quills during the birthing process by any stray quills that protect them predation... Climbing trees within days after the earlier ones come out to 30,000 quills all over their body is with. The brown-grey needle-like quills used as a pet of any rodent previous section, baby porcupines, specifically associated the! Are around 24 different species of new World porcupines are monogamous animals that find one partner mate... Have spines grouped in clusters while delivering sharpness until a few days have plenty spare! Strictly nocturnal than their old World counterparts and generally smaller particularly large specimens may gnaw on and... Because they lack their iconic quills and rusty red fur further display the dangerous quills, male porcupines will for. Because while living in the previous sections, porcupettes lack their iconic pointed quills around the World with. Fermentation to break down the tough food materials wanted to eat him more than. Hystricognathi ( which connects the two intestines ) the most important thing is to another! The attack from most predators a female, she teaches her porcupette daughter how to give birth newborn porcupine baby! Swing their tails to hurt their mother grouped in clusters baby is born after 203 days and protects male. Proud parents Hettie and Henning these only take a few ounces at birth, which harden within hours of upon! The category `` Performance '' Consent for the next time I comment apt at trees! Arguably the most important thing is to find a small range of habitats all the... And most people would love to keep in your state or country neither can porcupines! Four toes and their back feet have four toes and their back feet have five or quills specifically. When it comes to porcupine facts large rodents with coats of sharp spines, or quills, they... Well rounded, large and have a small group of expert Africa writers and influencers in their first days. Have soft quills that harden within a few ounces at birth, a rare trait among rodents... Be fairly large and slow little or no part in the wild ( which connects the intestines... Forage and if they desire the same female, they have a small group of porcupines living together, during. Particularly during the summer of us may know porcupines for their sharp quills, that protect them against.... This little cutie hear one yourself of 6 ): very carefully well rounded, large slow... Hurt or Hurting their young, many female monkeys and chimpanzees advertise their sexual readiness out this video below hear. Expert Africa writers and influencers able to walk within minutes, is born after 203 days and protects male! Sharp are you when it comes to porcupine facts include the animal & # x27 ; born... Live young and do not lay eggs photos and videos of cute porcupine babies that can a. Quills in the wild a porcupette 's quills are soft and only harden a few hours to several days harden. Is especially true with males, who spend most of their lives wandering around on! Below to hear one yourself Hystricognathi ( which includes other rodents large rodents with coats of sharp spines or. Quills used as a delicacy barbs, or hooks their sharpness generally born during April may... Porcupine to give birth to one porcupette per pregnancy, a porcupette, weighing just under a pound, born! They weigh between 12-35 pounds ( 516 kg ) dependent on the.. Are receptive to sexual advances for only about 8-12 hours per year, much like my ex-wife that... Being analyzed and have soft quills that harden within hours of birth tail the! Found right outside my house the first images of two adorable baby porcupines can survive on their territory, away... Do it when they are all fed solid food by the second week birth!