Porcupines are a type of rodent found in two main regions of the world, so scientists group them into either Old World or New World porcupines. I am in A photo of Chester from a GoFundMe to raise money for his surgery. Porcupines seek shelter in trees, caves, rock outcroppings, hollow . The only quill free areas are the face and underside. [25][27] In some parts of the Great Basin, cougars have greatly decreased numbers of porcupines in mountainous forests through predation. In addition to trees, the New World porcupine also lives in the brush, caves, and fallen logs. The quills help the porcupine defend themselves from attacks by predators. I have found porcupines to be most comfortable high above during the daywhere they can keep a good eye on humans. I approached it as it was clammering up a tree. It isn't the catch or the kill that makes for a great outdoor experience but enjoying all that God has created for us. I saw one in Sterling Forest a year ago. A vet was able to remove dozens sticking out of Chesters face, neck, chest and paws, according to a Facebook post from DeGennaro, 22. A forum community dedicated to New Jerseys hunters and enthusiasts. Porcupines give birth in the springand a cute sight it is to see them ambling through the forest as a family. It grows up to 36 inches (90 centimeters) long. They have longer quills than their American cousins - they can grow to two feet (61 centimeters) long. Many states paid bounties on dead porcupines until the 1920s (and in the case of New Hampshire, until . The quills are marked with black-and-white bands, which stand out against the porcupine's dark brown . I really thought he was going to make it. While I looked diligently for him, the prickly little fellow was just too high up for me to see. Some of these cherrieswere badly damaged by Super Storm Sandy and have been pushed over. E. d. bruneri can be found in the midwest from Arkansas to Montana. While a vet successfully removed the quills from his face and mouth there were well over 20 quills stuck in his chest/abdomen. A NJ pet owner is reeling from the loss of her dog, who died after a fight with a porcupine left harmful quills inside his body. It is also referred to as the Canadian porcupine or common porcupine. I as always amazed I lived off 447 and there were dozens run over on 447 every year (no shortage) I am sure they are protected here and will be until they destroy the forests. After it got about 15 feet up, it suddenly fell, hitting the ground with a loud thud and staggered away. A few of the quills they use for camouflage have a smoky hue to them. Porcupines have been seemingly having no troubles eating in the forests around the cottage. The porcupine's last line of defense is to climb a tree. The New World porcupines are the North American porcupine, also known as the Canadian or common porcupine, the tree porcupines, and a few other species including the stump-tailed porcupine. The quills are normally flattened against the body and in this position are less easily dislodged. All the porkys I've seen in Jersey were along that mountain. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, gear, troubleshooting, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Ive seen a few while turkey hunting near the deleware water gap. 1.9K views, 67 likes, 10 loves, 11 comments, 16 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from New Jersey State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites: Check out this cute porcupine that we spotted hanging out . When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. I've never seen one live & wild, either. They quickly become weak and dehydrated without food or water. Our bays, estuaries and marine waters can be home to 28 marine mammals and 336 marine finfish at some point during the year. Before you try to trap a porcupine, take proper precautions. Kerri Nicole McCaffrey Announces 4th Book! A family friend set up a GoFundMe page to assist with paying them. 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Each quill contains microscopic barbs which allow it to stick into the flesh of an attacker. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), also known as the Canadian porcupine, is a large quill-covered rodent in the New World porcupine family. Additionally, an importation permit must be obtained before any game animals may be brought into New Jersey from another state. It has hairless soles on its feet that help it climb trees. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Porcupines are normally shy and solitary creatures (meaning you are unlikely to find one near your house), but in winter they may den in small groups. (Shutterstock) SUSSEX COUNTY - A North Jersey family is reeling . When porcupines are mating, they tighten their skin and hold their quills flat, so as not to injure each other. They have a stocky body, a small face, short legs, and a short, thick tail. Porcupines back, sides, and tail are covered with thousands of stiff, needle-like, finely barbed hairs (quills) for defense. I followed one porcupines prints through an evergreenstand anditstracks disappeared at a 70 foot white pine. Porcupines seek shelter in trees, caves, rock outcroppings, hollow trees, and dense brush. First, they are agile tree climbers, and may force a fleeing porcupine from a tree to the ground, where it is more vulnerable. Female North American porcupines, on the other hand, are only fertile once a year for a period of eight to 12 hours (little is known about the mating behaviors of other New World porcupines). Porcupine sizes will vary, too. But her dog died and now the owner, a housekeeper, is stuck with a veterinary bills of more than $19,500, the outlet said. You can live trap a porcupine using a wire cage trap or wooden box trap with minimum dimensions of 10-inches x 12-inches x 32-inches. They are used primarily for defense, but also serve to insulate their bodies during winter. They rely on their sharp, barbed quills (up to 30,000 per individual) for defense. Oscar 9--big yellow lapcat if you are here more than 5 minutes. In one case, when a baby had fallen to its death from a tree, the mother came down and stayed by her offspring's side for hours waiting vainly for it to revive. Have any of you guys ever encountered a porcupine in NJ? 4. [11], Seven subspecies of E. dorsatum are recognized. Exotic felids. New Jersey tied for first place (with Kentucky) with 43% growth in the craft beer scene from 2015 to 2019, according to C+R Research. Porcupines are considered by some to be pests because of the damage that they often inflict on trees and wooden and leather objects. 7. This nugget of information was one of many interesting facts about the porcupine offered during Gillmer's presentation of "Porcupines in Our Presence," the most recent talk in the Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Partnership's winter lecture series, held last Thursday at SUNY New Paltz. along the more remote sections while hiking the Appalachian Trail. I have seen some farmers hold their dogs still and use pliers to remove the quillsbut clearly, a vet is the recommended professional should Rex or Fido get too curious! Sweitzer, R. A., Jenkins, S. H., & Berger, J. Now DeGennaro and her family are not only in mourning but also faced with a nearly $20,000 vet bill. They will often strip the tree bark off quite efficientlyand they do not limit themselves to the striated and often peeling bark of cherry! A family in New Jersey has been left heartbroken by the death of their pet dog, after a fight with a porcupine left quills inside of its body, with the owners aware that the spiky rodents even . In the winter, they mainly eat conifer needles and tree bark. They are commonly found in coniferous and mixed forested areas, but have adapted to harsh environments such as shrublands and tundra. [10], The earliest appearance of E. dorsatum is from the Pleistocene era found along the Arroyo del Cedazo near Aguascalientes, Mexico. Dogs never seem to learn to avoid them, so keep dogs confined or on a leash when a porcupine is in the neighborhood. [12] They are subdivided by different ranges across North America. The quills of the porcupine have a barbed structure on them and they will often get very deep before the victim (dog or human in this case), can get to vet or doctor. It has a strong warning odor which it can increase when agitated. Set the trap at the base of a large tree near the damage site. The pit-bull mix pups ill-fated encounter began at about 2 a.m., DeGennaro recounted. Our craft takes hard work and a single focus to be the best at what we do. [24][34] However, in some cases porcupine quills have indeed killed cougars, although usually this is after the cougar has already consumed the porcupine.[35][36]. (Miranda DeGennaro/Facebook). Porcupines have interesting tracks, too! I've seen roadkills in Sussex CountyMy buddy is a landscaper in Paramus, NJ (Bergen County). For example, it is listed as a species in need of conservation in Maryland. To our surprise it started to climb a tree. Primates. Cool pic. You've heard Pitbulls are ferocious, right? Despite popular myth, the porcupine does not throw its quills. [citation needed], Porcupines are nearsighted and slow-moving. They are thought to have migrated from Africa, ancestors of the Old World porcupines or Hystricidae or they originated based on a migration of the North American Paramyidae. But the only live ones I have seen were in Alaska. In the posting, the pal called Chester a very energetic boy, adding, Well, this past week, he decided to take on a porcupine; needless to say, it didnt end well.. To our surprise it started to climb a tree. (GoFundMe). Truly a treat to see this guy all the way down here. This strategy is successful against most attacks. The North American porcupine reaches about 33 inches in length and weighs up to 40 lbs. Otherwise, release on a property and make the proper changes, like creating exclusions around sheds and decks to prevent the porcupine from returning. Maybe try searching? [5], Erethizon dorsatus[2][nb 1]Hystrix dorsata Linnaeus,1758, The word "porcupine" comes from the middle or old French word porcespin, which means 'thorn pig'. New Jersey Porcupine quills are sharp, and professionals often wear thick kevlar gloves while handling porcupines, even if the porcupines are injured or ill. Do not try to handle porcupines. [14][15], The porcupine possesses antibiotics in its skin which may help prevent infection when a porcupine falls out of a tree and is stuck with its own quills upon hitting the ground. A guy with PA tags on his car got caught shooting them with a 22 this past summer on Old Mine Rd, apparently the NPS Ranger said that he was selling some part the Porcupine that he got good money for, thought he said there is some black market for them, anyway I don't think there is a season for them, I see them all the time, totally non aggressive. Here in North America, they are found in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Glad you turned the car around. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/192-9728059-6805715?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=in%20the%20valley%20of%20glow%20trees, Poetry, Art Highlight Milford Readers and Writers Festival, 2018, Kerri Nicole McCaffrey Exploring Walpack Center, NJ-the Genesis of Many of Her Poems, Poems, Paintings at Milford Readers and Writers Fest Will Show Human Cost of Tocks Island Project, Hey--here is my latest book of poetry--Orchard Mornings With God, Welcome to Kerri Nicole McCaffrey's Poetry Portal, Breaking New Jersey News NJ Poet Kerri Nicole McCaffrey Nominated for Pushcart Prize, Published in Chronogram Magazine the Poem, "Cannonsville in the Catskills", Kerri Nicole McCaffrey's Green Diva Poetry Reading. http://www.nhptv.org/NatureWorks/porcupine.htm. Saw one from the stand the other day, a whopping 10 yards away..I know they're legal in NY, but I saw nothing in NJ on them. It was on Blue Mountain Lakes Road which is just north of Millbrook Village at the Delaware Water Gap. But being that he swallowed some, they just went everywhere. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. An adult porcupine has about 30,000 quills that cover all of its body except its underbelly, face, and feet. They also feed on epigeal plant parts such as leaves, shoots, stems, tree barks and fruits. I was less than a mile up the road when it suddenly hit me. Being that he swallowed some, they just went everywhere, she said. There it will try to present its hindquarters and tail to the attacker, with the predator circling around and attempting to attack the prey. where regulations may be more restrictive, especially as it applies to discharge of firearms, transport of animals or use of trapping equipment. No other woods in the area. [37] By contrast, the North American beaver, which is comparable in size, has a gestation period of 128 days. Elbroch, L. M., Hoogesteijn, R., & Quigley, H. (2016). 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T8004A22213161.en, "A newly recognized family from the Horn of Africa, the Heterocephalidae (Rodentia: Ctenohystrica)", "African origin of caviomorph rodents is indicated by incisor enamel microstructure", "Porcupine: Alaska Wildlife Notebook Series", "A facilitated release mechanism for quills of the North American porcupine (, 10.1644/1545-1542(2002)083<0381:afrmfq>2.0.co;2, "Smart Weapons With an arsenal of quills and chemicals, the porcupine mounts one of nature's most robust defenses against predators", "Porcupine: Erethizon dorsatum bruneri Swenk", "Ecological Characteristics of Fishers in the Southern Oregon Cascade Range", "Endangered Animal Fact Sheet North American Porcupine", "Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Animals of Maryland", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=North_American_porcupine&oldid=1135173339, This page was last edited on 23 January 2023, at 02:04. Skunks. wildlife guide to the porcupine. This could be considered the Porcupine Caf. PeaceKM, HiI am the author of the poetry book: In the Valley of Glow Trees. See also Do Porcupines Shoot Quills. Some confuse this with antler damage from bucks during the rut. [11][13] Weight in adult females can average some 7kg (15lb) while 5 wild-caught males averaged 10.67kg (23.5lb). Dont you be one of them! An adult porcupine when attacked turns its rear to the predator. Sexual maturity: 2 years. According to Abc7NY.com, if your dog does have a porcupine encounter, get them to a veterinarian with high capacity x-ray equipment immediately. Before giving birth, the female will line the maternal chamber of the burrow system with grass and leaves to make the nest comfortable. I am reminded of the possumin Cynthia Rylants book, The Van GoghCafit had a verygentle way, just like porcupines. For the first two weeks the young rely on their mother for sustenance. [32][33], Another effective predator is the cougar. Consequently, the porcupine has "an extraordinary ability to learn complex mazes and to remember them as much as a hundred days afterward". A porcupine may have as many as 30,000 quills. It has black to brownish-yellow fur and strong, short legs. Imagine my surprise when I spotted one on Clinton Road early one evening. Watched him for a good ten minutes, but he refused to come down. Indian crested porcupine; Long-tailed porcupine; New World Porcupines. Once this is accomplished high in the tree, the mating process takes place on the ground. Miranda DeGennaro shared a video of 9-year-old Chester after the dog's fight with a porcupine. They make their dens in hollow trees or in rocky areas. The quills are hairs with barbed tips on the ends. I will end with this beautiful shot of a hemlock grove in New Jersey porcupine territory! Quills are modified hairs formed into sharp, barbed, hollow spines. They do not hibernate, but sleep in and stay close to their dens in winter. I've seen 32 species of native land mammals in the state, 27 in South Jersey, and 11 in my . May it "live long and prosper!". It looks like nothing was found at this location. I used to see them all the time in Sussex Cty. The hind foot length is 7.5 to 9.1cm (3.0 to 3.6in). MONTAGUE, N.J. -- A family in New Jersey is mourning the death of their dog after he got into a fight with a porcupine. The porcupine is a rodent. The North American porcupine is found in New England, the upper Midwest and western United States and most of Canada. They continue to nurse for up to four months, which coincides with the fall mating season. its the only way to get fisher population back, Hunting, Trapping, & fishing with my boy is what i love to do in life, I saw on at Whittingham on Saturday as well. Are there badgers in new jersey? These fierce carnivores go after squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, mice, raccoons, shrews and even porcupines! From south to north they are E.d. Porcupines' back, sides, and tail are covered with thousands of stiff, needle-like, finely barbed hairs (quills) for defense. North American porcupines have a relatively long life expectancy, with some individuals reaching 30 years of age. Yes, there are porcupines in New Jersey. Remember that relocating a porcupine beyond the area it was found may not be legal in your area. A wild animal has been abandoned or orphaned, A wild animal is damaging my house or other buildings, A person or pet has come in contact with or been attacked by a wild animal, An animal is causing a problem, but I don't know what it is, I know what animal is causing problems. Many people do not think of porcupines as a species found in New Jersey, but porcupines are found throughout North America and adapt to a variety of habitats. 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