Maggie's Farm

We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

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Sunday, May 20. 2018

Porcupines

North American Porcupines are not rare in the northeastern US woodlands. The topic comes up because Mrs. BD and I watched one on his tedious climb up a Hemlock tree last week in Mohonk. Lots of fun to see one of these goofy critters.


Not only are they slow and short-sighted, they also often fall out of trees.  


They are mostly nocturnal, and I rarely see them.  One nailed one of our dogs (lightly) years ago in the Berkshires. We pulled the quills out of his face. As with skunks, a dog only has to be taught once.


Porkies are rodents. About the North American Porcupine.


There are also Old World and African Porcupines. 


Seen one lately? 


(Not my photo) 

Posted by Bird Dog in Natural History and Conservation at 14:27 | Comments (10) | Trackbacks (0)

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I saw a porcupine once on a winter's afternoon, trudging through the snow.
#1 Gringo on 2018-05-20 14:29 (Reply)
Have not seen one in a long time but they do exist out here. They are a rare beast in my locale.

As for dogs and skunks, a neighbor had a dog that apparently thought killing skunks made it worth being sprayed. She got lots of 'em.
#2 feeblemind on 2018-05-20 14:41 (Reply)
Had this guy in an elm tree in our backyard sticking his tongue out at me :-)
#3 Kennebec (Link) on 2018-05-20 15:39 (Reply)
Ah, the “fretful porpentine.” One never knows where we will find ourselves when we follow the Bird Dog.
#4 Ralph Kinney Bennett on 2018-05-20 16:29 (Reply)
http://neveryetmelted.com/2018/03/03/deserving-porcupine-shot/
#5 David Zincavage (Link) on 2018-05-20 17:53 (Reply)
Not my brother's dogs. One of them set the world record for porcupine attacks at 3 in one day. The first two were pretty minor, but after the third attack it took two of us to hold her down, while my brother pulled the quills with a pair of pliers. He still missed a few.

Together, his two dogs could kill a skunk, but it involved one of them getting sprayed (guess which one) while the other snuck around and killed it with a bite to the neck.
#6 Fritz Riedel (Link) on 2018-05-20 18:42 (Reply)
My wife was awakened one night by two porkies copulating outside her window. Raised quite a ruckus, she said.
#7 Sam L. on 2018-05-20 18:46 (Reply)
Remember the old joke: What's the difference between a porcupine and a BMW? (or choose your favorite) ? On a porcupine the pricks are on the outside.
#8 Rick9911 on 2018-05-20 20:12 (Reply)
Some dogs are slower learners. I had a yellow lab that never did learn. On one occasion she brought me a live immature porcupine. He (the dog) had a mouthful of one inch quills. A 12" hemostat seems to work best for that kind of situation.
#9 Snowgoose on 2018-05-20 22:39 (Reply)
I pulled 120 quills out of our very aggressive (and stubborn) female shepherd mix's nose after an encounter with our resident porcupine. You have to be the one in the family that the dog is the most used to obeying, as they will growl at anyone who is at all hesitant with them and who they aren't completely submissive to. If in doubt (and you have a large dog with powerful bite) spend a coupla thousand bucks and take em to the vet. Retrieving dogs are easy, they will look sorrowful and let you help them, but more ferocious breeds might snap or growl. You CAN do it yourself if the dog knows you are boss, and you can soothe them while doing it. If a lot of quills, having some skill at needlework helps (really) as you may be delicately getting the things out without too much damage to the soft parts near the snout. I was rather annoyed at the porcupine that my dumb dog was so hurt (tho she recovered) and wanted to kill said porcupine, despite protected status. However, after lying in wait for it on its accustomed twilight rounds around the house, I was startled when it turned its head and looked straight at me. That was it. Dog hasn't gone after it again, porcupine still takes evening strolls ....
#10 retriever on 2018-05-23 19:55 (Reply)

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