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Porcupine Overview

Last Updated: December 20, 2006 | Related resource areas: Wildlife Damage Management

Porcupines | Porcupine Overview | Porcupine Damage Assessment | Porcupine Damage Management | Porcupine Resources | Porcupine Acknowledgments | ICWDM | Wildlife Species Information

Contents

Porcupines

Porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum
Porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum

Porcupines are usually nocturnal and are active all year. During summer, porcupines often feed on succulent plants, including garden and truck crops in open meadows, fields, and along the banks of streams and lakes. Greatest damage is caused in winter when porcupines feed on the inner bark of trees (Marsh and Howard 1990). Girdling in the upper trunk of trees often results in dead tops (Evans 1987b). Basal girdling may occur on seedlings. Porcupines are attracted to anything containing perspiration salt: saddles, harnesses, belts, and tool handles.

Porcupine damage can be identified by broad incisor marks on the exposed sapwood. Abundant oblong droppings about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long can be found under freshly damaged trees. Clipped twigs and tracks may also be found on snow. Top girdling in pine results in trees with a characteristic brushy crown.

Summary of Damage Prevention and Control Methods

Exclusion

Fences (small areas). Tree trunk guards.

Cultural Methods

Encourage closed-canopy forest stands.

Repellents

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.

Shooting

Day shooting and spotlighting are effective where legal.

Other Methods

Encourage natural predators.


Porcupines | Porcupine Overview | Porcupine Damage Assessment | Porcupine Damage Management | Porcupine Resources | Porcupine Acknowledgments | ICWDM | Wildlife Species Information


More information:

rodents, wdm overview

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