What do porcupines look like?
Porcupines are easy to recognize. They are about 25 to 36 inches long, with an 8- to 10-inch-long tail. Weighing between 12 and 35 pounds, they are rounded, large, and slow. They have dark brown fur, covered with thick barbed quills. One porcupine can have as many as 30,000 quills! Each quill is tipped with microscopic barbs or hooks that drive them deeper into the flesh of unlucky predators. Most porcupines have a robust body, small head, small ears, short legs, and a short, thick tail. Their front feet have four toes; the back feet have five toes. Each toe has a strong curved claw, which porcupines use to climb trees or strip away bark to eat. Porcupines have large orange teeth and strong jaws, just right for their rough, fibrous diet. They eat the inner bark of many types of trees and bushes. They will also munch on foliage, twigs, harder bark buds, fruits, nuts, berries, flowers, and even deer and elk antlers to get calcium. Where do porcupines live? Porcupines live in many parts o
