North American Tree Porcupine

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Theme area: Temperate forest and taiga & T

Scientific name: Erethizon dorsatum

Class: Mammals

Continent: North America

Habitat: Temperate forest and taiga & Tundra

Diet: Herbivorous

Weight: 3.5 - 18 (average under 9) kg

Size: 60 - 90 cm (body length)

Tree porcupines are very hard to spot, especially in summer when they sit high in the trees amongst dense foliage. They are expert climbers, helped by the pebble-like surface of their palms which gives them a very secure grip.

Wolverines, coyotes, wolves, bears and cougars are the main predators of tree porcupines but they can live up to 17 years in the wild. They usually produce one baby a year which will be climbing quite expertly within a few weeks of being born. Here at Blackpool Zoo, we feed them on a special pelleted feed, leaf-eater diet, vegetables and dog biscuits.

Conservation status

Extinct

Extinct in the wild

Critically endangered

Endangered

Vulnerable

Near threatened

Least concern

Insufficient data

Not evaluated

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