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Mammal Gallery

Porcupine

order Rodentia - family Erethizontidae

North American Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum

This was a sick animal.  We tried, but never found, anyone who knew much about porcupines.  At first it slept in the tree during the day, but after week or so stayed on the ground.  His problem looked like mange or leprosy with large patches of peeling raw skin.  By the end he was so sick he didn't even care we were near.

A fallow field was thickly covered in Pin-clover.  He ate only the new growth.  One night, he wandered into the barnyard where our donkey (who hates dogs) put him out of his misery.

Photos taken in Taylor County, January-March 2005

(Native of Texas)

Erethizontidae - Porcupine Family

North American Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum

This is a young porcupine that got in our varmint trap.  He was not happy, but he was released.  He found the first rock hiding place and stayed put till we were gone.

Photos taken in Taylor County, March 2006

(Native of Texas)

Porcupine pellets.