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Animal sign: Winding Porcupine tracks

Posted by Olivia Rettstatt,
North Country explorer from Glastonbury, Connecticut
February 3, 2014

Upon seeing these tracks deeper into the forest at Stone Valley, I figured out quickly that it was a porcupine due to the quill marks made by its tail and the defined path it created. Upon tracking it for a half hour or so I was lead to its den, but unfortunately not to the animal itself. Upon learning that its weight range is 12-35 pounds, I'd guess this porcupine was either on the bigger side due to how deep and spread out its tracks were, or it wasn't traveling alone. I find it interesting that a animal with such protective armor is really just an herbivore, and that they are pretty shy animals. Though I didn't see a porcupine that day, these winding tracks were enough to make me happy.

Comments

Emma DayBranch

I have never seen a porcupine den. Do they live in groups? I wonder if you could remember what the den looked like? This is a great post!
Thanks for sharing,
Emma

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Olivia Rettstatt

Hi Emma! I think they do live in groups/families...they definitely travel together and tend to be pretty shy animals. The den was like a mini cave, very wet and it had some leave and pine needle scraps in it and a LOT of scat. I was able to shine my phone light into it and it wasn't a very deep hole, maybe 2 or so feet back. Hope that helps :)

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