Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum

Identification
This mammal has long quills covering its body. It climbs trees to feed.

Location
Extirpated

Size
10 to 20 pounds

Diet
It feeds on bark twigs and leaves.

Habitat
It formerly occurred in northern forests.

Activity Period
Year round

Behavior
It is solitary and slow moving. It was active year round.

Lifecycle
Breeding occurs in autumn.

Population
The population is absent in Ohio.

History
It was extirpated due to hunting and habitat loss.

Human Interactions
It rarely interacted with humans.

Facts
It has over thirty thousand quills.

Sources
ODNR academic sources

Bark twigs leaves | Forests rocky areas | Formerly in Ohio