New Jersey Porcupine

Identification

Porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum), sometimes called “porkies” or “quill pigs,” are heavy-bodied, short-legged, slow, and awkward rodents, with a waddling gait. Adults are typically 25 to 30 inches (64 to 76 cm) long and weigh 10 to 30 pounds (4.5 to 13.5 kg). They rely on their sharp, barbed quills (up to 30,000 per individual) for defense.

 

Range and Habitat

The porcupine is a common resident of the coniferous forests of western and northern North America. It wanders widely and is found from cottonwood stands along prairie river bottoms and deserts to alpine tundra. They favor caves, rock slides, and thick timber downfalls for shelter.

 

Fun Facts

Young porcupines are capable of eating vegetation within a week after birth, but they generally stay with the female through the summer. Juvenile survival rates are high.

Predators of porcupines include coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, black bears, fishers, martens, great horned owls, and others.

 

Damage Prevention and Control Methods

Exclusion
Fences (small areas). Tree trunk guards.

Cultural Methods
Encourage closed-canopy forest stands.

Repellants
None are registered. Some wood preservatives may incidentally repel porcupines.

Toxicants
None are registered.

Fumigants

None are registered.

Trapping
Steel leghold trap (No. 2 or 3). Body-gripping (Conibear®) trap (No. 220 or 330). Box trap.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The above information was adapted from PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF WILDLIFE DAMAGE with permission of the editors, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Robert M. Timm, and Gary E. Larson (Cooperative Extension Division, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Nebraska-Lincoln, United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Animal Damage Control, Great Plains Agricultural Council Wildlife Committee).

Our local New Jersey offices offer Porcupine services in the following cities:
Absecon, Allenhurst, Allentown, Annandale, Asbury Park, Atlantic City, Atlantic Highlands, Audubon, Audubon Park, Avon-by-the-sea, Baptistown, Barnegat, Barnegat Light, Barrington, Bay Head, Beach Haven, Beachwood, Bellmawr, Belmar, Berlin, Beverly, Bordentown, Borough Of Point Pleasant, Bradley Beach, Brick Township, Brielle, Brigantine, Brooklawn, Brunswick, Buena, Burlington, Califon, Camden, Camden, Cedar Glen West, Cherry Hill, Chesilhurst, Clementon, Collingswood, Corbin City, Crestwood Village, Deal, Denville, Dover Beaches North, East Hanover, Eatontown, Egg Harbor City, Egg Harbor Township, Englishtown, Estell Manor, Fair Haven, Far Hills, Farmingdale, Fieldsboro, Folsom, Forked River, Freehold, Gibbsboro, Gillette, Gloucester City, Haddon Heights, Haddonfield, Hammonton, Hampton, Harvey Cedars, Hi-nella, Highlands, Hightstown, Holiday City - Berkeley, Holiday City - South, Hopewell, Interlaken, Ironia, Island Heights, Keansburg, Kenvil, Keyport, Lake Como, Lake Hiawatha, Lakehurst, Lakewood, Lanoka Harbor, Laurel Springs, Lavallette, Lawnside, Leeds Point, Leisure Knoll, Leisure Village, Leisure Village East, Lindenwold, Linwood, Little Silver, Loch Arbour, Long Beach Island, Long Branch, Long Branch City, Longport, Madison, Magnolia, Manasquan, Manchester Township, Mantaloking, Margate City, Matawan, Mckee City, Medford Lakes, Merchantville, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Mount Ephraim, Neptune City, Netcong, New Jersey, Northfield, Oaklyn, Ocean City, Ocean Gate, Oceanport, Oldwick, Palmyra, Parsippany, Pemberton, Pennington, Pine Beach, Pine Hill, Pine Valley, Pine Wald, Pleasantville, Point Pleasant, Point Pleasant, Point Pleasant Beach, Port Republic, Princeton, Quakertown, Randolph, Red Bank, Riverton, Roosevelt, Rumson, Runnemede, Schooleys Mountain, Sea Bright, Sea Girt, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Ship Bottom, Shrewsbury, Silverton, Silverton, Smithville, Somerdale, Somers Point, South Toms River, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, Stratford, Surf City, Three Bridges, Tinton Falls, Toms River, Travistock, Trenton, Tuckerton, Union Beach, Ventnor City, Waretown, Waretown, Warren, West Long Branch, Wood-lynne, Wrightstown, Zarephath