Do porcupines shoot their quills?
-David S., age 10 Ouch—I just bristle at the thought! Contrary to popular belief, porcupines don’t shoot their quills. But you can bet that these large rodents use the one- to three-inch barbed spines that cover their back, sides and tail for defense. When a porcupine gets into a sticky situation, he hunches over with his backside facing his attacker. If the animal comes closer for a sniff, the porcupine lashes out with his tail. When this happens, a few loose quills may fall off—and that’s probably what started the myth that porcupines shoot their quills. If a quill gets stuck in the flesh near the attacker’s heart or lungs, it can work its way in and damage these organs.
