Porcupine Diet: Feeding Habits, Nutrition And Fun Food Facts

Porcupines are large rodent species with sharp quills on their backs, who move at a languid pace.

We know through studies in science that all porcupines have one thing in common by birth; the quills that cover their bodies that help them defend themselves from their predators.

They are energetic and active animals that stay outdoors throughout the year. Porcupines can be found on almost every continent other than Antarctica.

Through science, researchers have divided this animal species into two families: the old world porcupine family, Hystricidae, and the new world porcupine family, Erethizontidae. Old world porcupines are commonly found in Africa, Europe, and Asia, and new world porcupines are found in North, Central, and South America.

The old world porcupine family members are stout, well-built animals who are terrestrial.

Old world porcupines can be seen in southern Europe, Asia, and Africa. Old World porcupines eat roots, fruits, bark, and berries.

The new world porcupines have spiny coverings. The 'quills' of new world porcupines are mixed with long, soft hairs. Quills are mixed with bristles and hair in the case of new world porcupines.

Erethizontidae are herbivores. The members of Erethizontidae are usually smaller in size.

The only category found in the United States and Canada is the North American porcupine. The North American porcupine, seen throughout upstate New York, is the second-largest rodent in North America, next to the beaver. The North American porcupine is also called the Canadian porcupine.

A variety of North American porcupine, the North American porcupine Erethizon, inhabits much of North America. Human beings are a predator of porcupines. Humans, as predators, attack them for quills.

As predators, humans use the hollow quills to make ornaments in Africa. Some people even consume the flesh and skin of this Rodentia in South East Asia, which reduces their numbers. The skin is covered with quills.

Hollow quills of this genus have a wide range of uses. For example, they are used as musical instruments. Quills are also used to decorate traditional clothes and leather bags.

Porcupines undergo a lot of pain when their quills are being removed to be used for a wide range of purposes. Different species vary in size too. Some of these Rodentia are short, while some are tall.

The baby of porcupine is called a porcupette. At the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, porcupines eat various vegetables, corn, low-starch foods, and high-fiber biscuits.

These zoos play a large role in their conservation. The conservation of porcupines is an issue that has to be discussed at length. They may fall short in number if conservation does not properly take place.

Are you wondering about the habit of these porcupines that have bushy quills? Science tells us that they do not socialize with other species. They like to spend time alone. Still, the new world porcupines like to get paired.

Mother and daughter porcupines form a family called a prickle. Porcupines give birth to only one well-developed young one at a time, which is a unique characteristic. Their gestation period is 112 days.

If you have enjoyed reading this article, be sure to check out our fascinating information on the garter snakes diet and the corn snake diet.

African Porcupine Diet

Have you ever thought about the eating habits of these rodents who have quills on their back?

Porcupines are round in shape and are either gray or brown in color, which enables them to camouflage well in their habitat so that their quills remain invisible. They can usually be found in grasslands and nearby hillsides, mostly in the hillsides of Kenya in Africa.

These animals like to eat succulent plants like rose bushes, pansies, all types of berries, and corn. Why not read ahead to find out more interesting facts about what else porcupines eat or what porcupine loves to eat?

African porcupine species, as the name suggests, belong to the African continent. As per science, this genus comes under the category of old-world porcupines. They are commonly found in crevices and naturally occurring caves.

They do not have the status of a climber. Instead, they search for food among the vegetation on the ground. They are massive in size.

Their most important source of energy is nitrogen. They eat leaves, herbs, twigs, and green plants like clover to get this nutrient. They eat parts of vehicles too because of the salt which covers the tires.

The African brush-tailed porcupine has a herbivores status, and it eats tree bark, nodules, fruits, bulbs, and leaves. This species can also be seen eating the carcasses of the dead remains of other creatures.

It also has a fascination for cultivated crops such as potatoes and carrots and eats them in plenty. This type of porcupine eats carrion and has the habit of taking carrion to their holes for nibbling. Their life span is 15 years in their natural habitat and 20 years in captivity.

Porcupines usually spend winter on the branches of trees. Porcupines do not hibernate during winter to escape from the cold. They spend their time chewing twigs and buds of trees. The trees preferred by the porcupines are Utah, cottonwoods, spruces, and true firs.

Porcupines like to eat the tender leaves and twigs seen high above the tree. They also like to eat the inner tree bark, which is very nutritious. The tree becomes weak during the process of removing the outer barks.

Captive Porcupine Diet

Porcupines are kept in captivity for research and experimental purposes. Due to their aggressive behavior, species from different sources are kept separately and are allowed to mingle after they become habituated.

Even though they are in captivity, they are provided with natural conditions of illumination, ventilation, and heat. Did you know that a female porcupine is known as a sow?

Porcupines are nocturnal animals, but there are certain species among them who are active even during the daytime also. Let us read on to find out more interesting facts about porcupines.

The feeding rate is generally reduced during summer and spring when food that is high in protein is readily available. The captive porcupines are fed mostly with a mixture of fresh fruits and vegetables supplemented by commercial pellets at regular intervals.

Fresh drinking water is available throughout, and dry wood is placed in the enclosure for them to chew on. Their quills get cleaned regularly. Porcupines need a lot of minerals and sodium for their survival.

Human beings provide them with an ample amount of sodium. North American porcupines in captivity eat ZuPreem primate, rodents blocks, monkey chow, and salt.

Different zoos provide different varieties of food. For example, the diet of porcupines at the Philadelphia Zoo includes rodent blocks, apples, and carrots. They are also fed food items like sweet potatoes.

How does a porcupine obtain its food?

The smallest breed of porcupine is called Bahia porcupine, and the most prominent breed is the crested porcupine.

Most of them protect themselves from their predators using the quills on their spine. Even though they are equipped with quills on their spine, porcupines still face many predators like humans, bobcats, coyotes, lions, and wolves.

We have already seen that porcupines are primarily herbivores that eat different vegetables, plants, shrubs, and leaves. They also eat animal bones which gives them the natural salt they require.

They are fond of salt items and intrude into human settlements to get salt sources. They even risk their lives to get the taste of salt by venturing into the roads where heavy traffic occurs.

Asiatic brush-tailed porcupines eat fruits, grubs, bamboo shoots, taros, and insects. These porcupines eat animal bones and horns also. They usually dig out the insects from their hide-out places. These porcupines also have the habit of stalking insects. Porcupines are peaceful animals, however, when provoked, they use their natural armor, the quills, to protect themselves at length.

What foods can a porcupine chew?

Porcupines, having sharp quills on their spine, are never free from certain predators. Mountain lions are the most powerful predators in North America.

They have the least concern for any other animals. The reason for the death of some of these powerful cats was the quills of porcupines. A study that was conducted revealed that quills were present in the internal organs of these lions after their deaths.

As we have discussed earlier, porcupines are herbivorous rodents. They need more minerals for their bones and spine than what they get from plants, shrubs, and fruits. They chew on bones to sharpen their teeth.

Chewing the bones gives them calcium and salt, which are necessary for the strength of teeth and bones. There are some porcupines that like to chew on woods, and hence, they eat the bark of trees.

This species also like to chew on nuts, seeds, leaves, fruits, and grass. They have sharp and strong teeth, which help them to chew on hard materials like wood.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for the porcupine diet, then why not take a look at the crane fly diet or how to raise a duck.