Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Erethizon dorsatum

Came across this old photo of a hungry Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) a few weeks ago, when I was backing up a few more files. Taken at Sikome, Fish Creek Park, on 17 December 2009. ■The common porcupine is a large, robust rodent. Adults weigh about 10 kilograms (22 pounds). ■Has a thick tail, and short powerful legs with long curved claws. ■Coat is composed of rows of dense, brown undercoat with yellow-tipped guard hairs. ■Guard hairs alternate with rows of loosely attached quills that vary from 25 to 65 millimetres (1 to 2.5 inches) in length. ■Quills taper to a sharp and stiff point that is covered with very small barbs. ■Quills are hollow, thus reducing their weight and providing buoyancy when the animal occasionally swims. srd.alberta.ca/FishWildlife/WildSpecies/Mammals/RabbitsRo...

This is another of the photos I took on 17th December 2009, when I came across this Porcupine down at Sikome, Fish Creek Park. It had its eyes closed pretty well closed the whole time I was watching it - I wonder if this was because it had been asleep when I first spotted it, or maybe because closed eyes are protected from all those sharp needles when feeding? Really very sweet : ) talkaboutwildlife.ca/profile/?s=530

Another shot of the Porcupine in Fish Creek Park, this time showing his beady little eye. It had its eyes closed pretty well closed the whole time I was watching it - I wonder if this was because it had been asleep when I first spotted it, or maybe because closed eyes are protected from all those sharp needles when feeding? Really very sweet : ) talkaboutwildlife.ca/profile/?s=530