WILDERNESS SURVIVAL GUIDE

   Have you ever heard of a porcupine?If you have ever been quilled before then you probably know what I'm talking about.Porcupines are the third largest rodents in the world and are the second largest in North America,next to the beaver.Porcupines are known for their coats of sharp quills that protect them from predators.Can you believe that they have 30,000 quills on their bodies?Although they can poke you with their quills,porcupines cannot throw their quills.Baby porcupines have soft quills at birth and they eventually harden within a few days.Some people use the quills and guardhairs of porcupines to make clothing.These rodents have long tails,have rounded bodies,and are very large.They usually weigh around 12-35 pounds.They commonly come in different shades of brown,gray and white.You might actually think that all porcupines are the same,but they aren't.There are two types of porcupines:Old World Porcupines and New World Porcupines.

   The differences between Old World Porcupines and New World Porcupines are that Old World Porcupines are big and their spikes are grouped in clusters.On the other hand,New World Porcupines are small and their quills are attached singly.Also,Old World Porcupines like to stay on rocks and are excellent swimmers but New World Porcupines live in trees and are excellent climbers.Porcupines are found in Asia,Southern Europe,Africa,North America,and South America.You will most likely see porcupines in areas like forests,deserts,hillsides,or rocky areas.These rodents are mainly nocturnal,but are also active during daylight.Lastly,porcupines are herbivores and have a diet of leaves,herbs,twigs,and green plants.