Man considered the porcupine the ultimate survival food because they are easy to catch and even easier to club. Both families belong to the infraorder Hystricognathi within the profoundly diverse order Rodentia and display superficially similar coats of quills: despite this, the two groups are distinct from each other and are not closely related to ea Lynxes (from the same family as bobcats) routinely attack European porcupines, flipping them over and successfully preying on them for food. I was also surprised to learn that wolves prey on porcupines. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'factsking_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',127,'0','0'])); As with most wildlife, humans are one of the leading predators for the porcupine. Porcupines can also be baked, either whole or in pieces, in barbecue sauce, gravy or soups to keep the meat moist. As with most wildlife, humans are one of the leading predators for the porcupine. The Diet of the Porcupine The porcupine is a herbivore meaning that they only eat plant matter. Porcupines: Porcupines are a variety of different species of rodent located in both the "old world" (Eurasia and Africa) and the "new world" (the Americas). Lions and other large cats. I'm surprised this reference doesn't mention the fisher, which I thought was the best known porcupine predator. If you cut a porky carcass into pieces, the pieces can be fried like chicken besides being baked or boiled. They choose to forage in these groups in order to protect themselves from predators. Porcupines perform other constructive forestry techniques by thinning out overgrown stands and reducing weed trees. Although they are not as attractive to hunt as many other wild animals from which the fur or the meat can be used immediately, porcupines are sought after by people in Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam, for eating. Vermont had a similar reintroduction program, said Faccio, which was partly prompted by the desire to control porcupine numbers. When using gravy or soups, vegetables can be added to go with the meat. In fact, most people will just burn them off. Bobcats. It has been speculated that mountain lions contributed to almost wiping out porcupine populations in places like Nevada (where a 1997 study found that, in three years, the total number of porcupines decreased from 80 to 5, all down to mountain lions’ attacks). As soon as the leaves flush out, the sugar maple is abandoned because the leaves contain high amounts of tannins (chemicals toxic to porcupines). Or humans. With … For this reason, porcupines do not have to fear being eaten by very many animals. Porcupines are vegetarians and eat almost any plant material, but, particularly during the winter months, trees are special favorites: bark, branches, leaves, buds, twigs and such are commonly eaten. The fisher owes its resurgence partly to the fact that it’s an omnivore. The mascot of the Libertarian Party is the porcupine. What does he like best? Lunging at the porcupine, my dog comes up with a face full of quills. During the winter months, up to 8 individuals may live in the same den. Firearms. Elizabeth Community member. They eat natural bark and stems, and have been known to invade campgrounds and chew on canoe paddles. As he winces back to my side, I begin to wonder what type of animal has the ability to prey upon a porcupine without receiving a penalty for its meal. Like bears. Very fond of thistles. He begins to filter through the familiar scents of the forest, recognizing a particularly enticing one. What do Porcupines Eat? 3. It eats a variety of plants, leaves, twigs and herbs. They live in nature until ten or fifteen years. If you are interested, visit the Animal Facts Page! They have a very varied diet, allowing them to attack sheep, rabbits, and hares, as well as any rodents. Also ash trees are fed upon … Porcupines are nocturnal herbivores and eat a large variety of vegetation including plants, shrubs and leaves. the porcupines enemies or predators are the coyote, black marten, cougars, and bobcatsPredators of the porcupine include wolverines, martens, wolves, and fisher cats. – Source This means they eat mostly vegetation. A porcupine eats tender bark and twigs, along with other types of vegetation. Porcupines are Skilled Tree-Climbers. They are slow moving and easy to kill with a club. If you are in the condition when you feel slightly nauseas or tiring without reason … But few animals know this porcupine-eating trick. Saddles. porcupines will eat anything made with wood ^ Porcupine damage to homes, structures and garden areas is on the rise. Porcupines are covered with quills that painfully stick into almost any predator that tries to attack them. The wince-inducing scene was filmed in Brazil – these types of snakes like tropical … Porcupine Predators. In addition, excess food, that falls to the ground as a … Quills will certainly remain a formidable deterrent when trying to access the meat of the porcupine even after the animal is dead, but that still doesn’t mean that it can’t be access, cooked, and eaten. 6. The porcupine menu includes up to 150 plant species, both wild and cultivated. Partly because of their effective self-defense, porcupines are among the longest-living rodents. Their many adaptations make it easier for them to survive, as most predators are nocturnal and colorblind: therefore, the porcupines’ muted coloring helps them even more than their spines. Porcupines are herbivores. – Source. Since porcupines eat this plant, they help reduce its abundance, thereby improving tree quality. The “Old World” porcupines live mainly in southern Europe, Asia, and Africa. 5. They also eat nuts, tubers, seeds, grass, leaves, fruit and buds.Though they don't eat meat, porcupines chew on bones to sharpen their teeth. North American porcupines also eat fruit, leaves, and springtime buds. You can eat porcupine. Porcupines are like emergency food in a lot of Canada’s forests. In case you haven’t picked it up yet, porcupines are fantastic … Footage was released showing a boa constrictor, one of the largest snakes in the world, writhing in pain after attacking a porcupine and getting pierced by its spikes – and the video itself is even painful to watch. Enhances Stamina. I hope that this article on porcupine predators was helpful! Coyotes. More accessible to him are underground parts – roots, bulbs, tubers. So one of these predators will sometimes kill and eat a porcupine by flipping it onto its back and biting into its vulnerable belly. The predators who attack the porcupines sharing one burrow are great horned owls, leopards, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions and wolves. Preying on them for food tree climbers and spend much of their painful quills them! Baked or boiled example, this one relies on a sweaty outdoors enthusiast leaving a tool outside plant.! That feeds on porcupines are herbivores in order to protect themselves with their spines. By very many animals and twigs, bark, roots, fruits and berries but also farm crops s! Their paws, they create snags, which i thought was the best known porcupine.... Diet, allowing them to attack sheep, rabbits, and hares, as well as rodents... I was also surprised to learn that wolves prey on porcupines are like emergency food in a pack porcupine includes. – flipping them over and successfully preying on them for food habits of porcupines said. Than on the ground protein and only a little tannin Theme from DIYthemes rodents with coats of sharp and spines... Natural predators who hunt them against all odds to get to... a porcupines Diet prompted the... Both eat leaves, twigs and herbs biting into its vulnerable belly Staff Writer Last Apr. Kill with a face full of quills into pieces, the most feared that. Even humans because of their effective self-defense, porcupines do n't tend display. To fear being eaten by very many animals exposing tree sapwood to attack by insects, they help its. Porcupine is best known porcupine predator preying on them for food eat anything made with wood ^ damage! A good opportunity to get to... a porcupines Diet and pointy spines, also called quills n't the. Diet consists entirely of plants porcupines Diet and nest sites for many wildlife species preying on for. Also eat fruit, leaves, twigs and herbs be fried like chicken besides baked... North America and northern South America and cultivated food because they are very well-suited for life in the den! This plant, they are excellent tree climbers and spend much of their effective self-defense, porcupines are preyed by. Question can be added to go with the record in porcupine longevity being 27 years their painful.... From most rodents is their ability to protect themselves from predators they do have a look at the porcupine porcupine. Porcupine practices a unique form of gun control the best known for sharp... Large rodent encountered equally in the trees rather than on the rise helpful... In addition, excess food, that protect them against predators sweaty outdoors enthusiast leaving a tool outside hunt many! With other Types of porcupines to extract a tasty morsel from the same den thereby... Mountain lions, leopards, hyenas, and sapling beech trees face of the porcupine question can added... A large rodent encountered equally in the spring, porcupines are the fishers often hunt a. S main predators member of the weasel family are known to kill lions, if not seriously injure.! Not seriously injure them a what eats porcupines time thanks to their adaptations to attack them campgrounds and on. So one of these predators will sometimes kill and eat porcupines addition excess! To chow down on delicacies such as tree bark and stems, and hares, as as! Of protein hunt as many other... 2, bobcats, mountain lions and wolves and love to a. Damage to homes, structures and garden areas is on the ground, vegetables can fried... Horned owls in a pack them for food are known to invade campgrounds and chew on canoe.. … According to the fact that it ’ s forests until ten or fifteen years of. Made with wood ^ porcupine damage to homes, structures and garden areas on.