Let’s have a look at the porcupine’s main predators. Three animals, however, has figured out how to eat porcupines. The main safety issue is the possibility of being quilled. They do not have canine teeth. Specifically with porcupines, coyotes have been seen attacking them in pairs – flipping them on their backs and feeding on their bellies. Elephants have their size and tusks, lions have sharp teeth and claws and even a tiny bee has a sting to ward off danger. 2003. But think about it. Predators have different means of killing and eating porcupines. They have a very varied diet, allowing them to attack sheep, rabbits, and hares, as well as any rodents. Another popular misconception is that porcupines shoot their quills at predators. Porcupines are covered with quills that painfully stick into almost any predator that tries to attack them. Quills are released by contact or may drop out when the porcupine shakes its body. Coyotes are smaller than their relative the grey wolf, yet can cause quite a lot of damage to domestic households and will prey on chickens and other birds. There is hystricidae, or Old World Porcupines, and Erethizontidae, the New World Porcupines. Bobcats, cougars and fishers have learned that a porcupine has no quills on its stomach. The most obvious trait is the long, sharp quills that cover their bodies. Let’s have a look at the porcupine’s main predators. The major difference between Old and New world species is that the Old World porcupines live on the ground and often in small groups, while the New World porcupin… As do wolves and coyotes. They do not. The great horned owl is a well-known predator of the porcupine, presumably due to a combination of intelligence (so knowing how to attack it in the ways it is vulnerable) and dexterity. Mammal Tracks and Sign: A Guide to North American Species. The keratinous quills are modified hairs that grow back when shed and serve the important purpose of protecting these rodents from predators. Porcupines are rodents with an interesting way to protect themselves from predators. Their many adaptations make it easier for them to survive, as most predators are nocturnal and colorblind: therefore, the porcupines’ muted coloring helps them even more than their spines. The “Old World” porcupines live mainly in southern Europe, Asia, and Africa. Fishers are a primary predator of porcupines, but quills have been found embedded in coyotes, cougars, bobcats, foxes, lynxes, bears, wolves and even Great Horned Owls. If you check YouTube, you can probably find a video of a leopard dying of wounds inflicted by a crested porcupine it attacked. the porcupines enemies or predators are the coyote, black marten, cougars, and bobcatsPredators of the porcupine include wolverines, martens, wolves, and fisher cats. If you are interested, visit the Animal Facts Page! Wolves are extremely social creatures and often hunt in a pack. This has allowed them to attack porcupines successfully, because as a group they are turning them over and getting access to them without the defense of their quills.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'factsking_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_8',134,'0','0'])); As wolves are highly intelligent, it is now wonder they have learnt about the porcupines’ weaknesses and are exploiting them in this way.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'factsking_com-leader-2','ezslot_14',135,'0','0'])); Lynxes (from the same family as bobcats) routinely attack European porcupines, flipping them over and successfully preying on them for food. So if you see wood-handled tools or canoe paddles knawed on, it just might be a porcupine. Yes, mountain lions, humans, bears, fisher cats, great horned owls all prey upon porcupines. And, what do porcupines eat? Porcupines are well-known for their long, sharp quills that warn just about everyone to keep their distance. The smallest porcupine is the Rothschilds Porcupine from South America which weighs only 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds). Predators do not want to be stuck with the needles so they avoid hunting and eat this animal. They are good hunters and usually seek out rabbits and hares for food, but will also attack chickens and other small birds, deer and rodents. It has been speculated that mountain lions contributed to almost wiping out porcupine populations in places like Nevada (where a 1997 study found that, in three years, the total number of porcupines decreased from 80 to 5, all down to mountain lions’ attacks). These include the coyote, red fox, black bear, bobcat, mink, marten, long-tailed weasel, ermine, and great horned owl. All in all, they are very well-suited for life in the wild and have lived a long time thanks to their adaptations. A porcupine eats tender bark and twigs, along with other types of vegetation. Snakes have also died after swallowing porcupines. As you have seen above, the belief that porcupines can shoot out their spines is false. They also have a special arrangment of their jaw muscles which helps them to chew more efficiently. Surprisingly, however, studies show that porcupines can actually kill lions, if not seriously injure them. Porcupines have needles to protect themselves. Porcupines are covered with quills that painfully stick into almost any predator that tries to attack them. However, other species of porcupines are found in South America and Africa, and they have many predators. Contrary to some wildlife folklore, porcupines cannot “shoot” quills, rather their barbed quills penetrate and stick upon contact with any animal or object that it finds threatening. Diet. Bobcats, cougars and fishers have learned that a porcupine has no quills on its stomach. I hope that this article on porcupine predators was helpful! Contrary to popular belief, porcupines cannot shoot their quills at someone. The North American porcupine has a strong odor to warn away predators, which it can increase when agitated. The porcupine is best known for its sharp spikes and fierce look, helping it shield itself from predators. In an effort to remove the quills, the predator can cause the barbed quills to work into the deep tissues. The predators who attack the porcupines sharing one burrow are great horned owls, leopards, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions and wolves. But few animals know this porcupine-eating trick. Only old and experienced coyotes are known to do this, as younger ones have been found to injure themselves on the porcupines’ quills.eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'factsking_com-leader-1','ezslot_12',132,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'factsking_com-leader-1','ezslot_13',132,'0','1'])); In the Old World such as Africa, the biggest predators for porcupines are the whole gamut of large wild cats, especially lions, who are clever enough to carefully flip the porcupines over and attack them in this way. Mechanicsburg, PA. Humans who have embedded quills should consult a physician immediately. The same approach as the marten would apply for attacking a porcupine, where the bobcat would look to turn it over and expose its belly to be able to effectively attack it.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'factsking_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_5',131,'0','0'])); Another North American predator of the porcupine is the coyote, another versatile predator who can be found far and wide in the United States, constantly enlarging its territory. Fishers are uniquely adapted to attack porcupines because of their size – they often go for the unprotected face, whilst bigger predators try to attack the full body and struggle with the quills.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'factsking_com-banner-1','ezslot_1',130,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'factsking_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',130,'0','1'])); The bobcat is part of the lynx family in North America, living predominantly in woodland but also in semi-desert as it is a very adaptable animal. What sets porcupines apart from most rodents is their ability to protect themselves with their large spines, also called quills. Their quills can indeed be released, but through other mechanisms, such as contact. All porcupines have a few traits in common. What sets porcupines apart from most rodents is their ability to protect themselves with their large spines, also called quills. Now that is curious. They are smoked out of their burrows and hunted with spears, nets, or dogs. Porcupines use the quills as a defense. They also like to eat outhouses, if you happen to have one. However, they still have a lot of natural predators who hunt them against all odds. However, the quills do detach easily when touched, and microscopic barbs make removal difficult, once embedded in flesh. Porcupines have a prickly and very dangerous supply of sharp quills. Fishers are a primary predator of porcupines, but quills have been found embedded in coyotes, cougars, bobcats, foxes, lynxes, bears, wolves and even Great Horned Owls. The smell has been described as similar to strong human body odor, goats, or some cheeses. Best Answer. These animals have learned that flipping a porcupine on its back exposes its unprotected underside and leaves it basically defenseless. Porcupines do not carry any communicable diseases that are of concern to humans, except, as with any mammal, they can contract rabies. Porcupines stay with their mothers throughout the summer but, by fall, leave to be on their own. Coyotes have been known to work in pairs to get a porcupine on its back, where it can be incapacitated. The only problem with this trick is that it does not last. There are around 24 different species of porcupines across the globe and one thing that’s common among them is their pointed quills. A:Marian Ocecowski; B:Malene Thyssen; C:Daderot; D:NASA; E:Felix Andrews; F:Harmen Piekema; G:Tomasz Gorny; H:Gibe; I:Fb78; J:Yosemite; K:Rileypie; L:Miroslav Duchacek; M:Fir0002; N:Christian R. Linder; O:Luis Miguel Bugalio Sanchez; P:Dick Bauch; Q(Quoll):Sean Mack; R:USFWS; S: Hakan Svensson; T:Ezpete; U(Uakari):Evgenia Kononova; V:Calo Bescos; W:NOAA; X(Xysticus Crab Spider):Olaf Leillinger; Y(Yellow Hornbill):Nick Scott-Smith; Z:Malene Thyssen. The “Old World” porcupines live mainly in southern Europe, Asia, and Africa. Some quills can get up to a foot (30 centimeters) long, like those on the Africa's crested porcupine, according to National Geographic. The North American porcupine is an herbivore; it eats leaves, herbs, twigs, and green plants such as clover. Herbivorous predators, like krill, horses, and porcupines, consume autotrophs. For the most part, predators leave porcupines alone. Let's have a look at how they do this. But even that doesn’t guarantee a victory. The best thing to do is to avoid them completely so neither you, your pets or porcupines get hurt. This allows an animal to draw in its lips while gnawing. Predators sometimes succumb to quills. As a result of this injury, the lion had difficulty continuing to hunt and couldn’t remove the quill, therefore resorted to attacking humans, which lions wouldn’t normally do. One porcupine predator, the fisher, is able to flip the North American porcupine onto its back, exposing its unprotected belly. New World porcupines’ predators include martens, wolverines, pythons, eagles, and great-horned owls. The scent of some of the porcupine’s predators is beneficial. Porcupines are smart rodents; when they realize that … If that doesn't work, they may charge backwards into the predator. Coyotes have been known to work in pairs to get a porcupine on its back, where it can be incapacitated. They are an enormous family of creatures, and although the Old World porcupines, and New World porcupines, are all from the same branch of the rodent family, they are actually not closely related. The largest porcupine is the African Porcupine which can weigh over 20 kilograms (44 pounds). Porcupines are herbivores and especially like wood. Sources: Elbroch, Mark. It is a large rodent encountered equally in the “Old World” and in North America and northern South America. When porcupine populations close to cultivated areas surge, they can become serious agricultural pests. A quill from a porcupine can penetrate very deeply into their aggressor, and in one case a lion has been found with a quill that have been penetrated more than six inches into its snout, nearly reaching its brain. Rodents like porcupines are usually easy prey to a range of predators. Porcupines are well known for their pointy quills, which cover their backs, sides and tail to provide a natural protection against predators. They wear a coat of sharp quills all over their body. When the porcupine does attack, it moves its tail to hit its quills against the predator. Porcupines have a relatively high longevity and have held the record for being the longest-living rodent, with one individual living to 27 years, until the record was broken in 2002 by a naked mole-rat living to 28 years. There are many carnivorous predators in the world, including wolves, cougars, owls, and snakes. Outhouses collect a lot of urine which is loaded with salt. Porcupines vary in size considerably depending on species, however, they generally measure 60 – 90 centimetres (25 – 36 inches) in length (excluding tail which measures 20 – 25 centimetres (8 – 10 inches)) and weigh between 5 – 16 kilograms (12 – 35 pounds). A veterinarian should treat pets that have had a run-in with a porcupine. Porcupines are rodents that are known for their needle-like quills used as a deterrent against predators. And here you have the list of predators of the porcupine, despite all their adaptations! Moreover, the most … Predators include fishers, coyotes, bobcats, and mountain lions. Porcupines have rounded bodies c… The odor is generated by a patch of skin called the rosette, on the lower back where modified quills serve as osmetrichia to broadcast the smell. Furthermore, they make a clattering sound that deters predators, and when they raise their spines, they look a lot like a skunk, which can also confuse any other animal looking to hunt a porcupine. Stackpole Books. Top 8 Predators of Porcupines that Eat Porcupines. eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'factsking_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_6',127,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'factsking_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_7',127,'0','1'])); As with most wildlife, humans are one of the leading predators for the porcupine. These predators kill a porcupine by biting its unprotected face or by flipping it over to expose the vulnerable underside. They make shake them, which makes them rattle, as a warning to potential predators. For this reason, porcupines do not have to fear being eaten by very many animals. A fisher would attack the porcupine in order to eat it and they are known in the United States as maybe the foremost predator of porcupines, presumably because they like the taste of their meat. The porcupine uses its sharp quills to inflict harm to any would-be predators that get within close range. Most wildlife have some sort of adaptation to protect themselves against predators and rivals. For this reason, porcupines do not have to fear being eaten by very many animals. They can attack the unprotected face of the porcupine or find ways to flip it over, at which point the porcupine is defenceless. However, they still have a lot of natural predators who hunt them against all odds. These practices have eliminated them from densely settled areas. Partly because of their effective self-defense, porcupines are among the longest-living rodents. This specie have however developed an advanced defense mechanism that makes predators think twice before they consider them for a meal. In fact, Vietnam is famous for having a massively declining porcupine population as a result.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'factsking_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',128,'0','0'])); It is more common to find porcupines’ quills used for decoration in Native American clothing and headdresses.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'factsking_com-box-4','ezslot_4',129,'0','0'])); The fisher, or North American marten, is a fierce predator of the American porcupines. The fisher is the only habitual predator of the porcupine, and may suppress populations of this rodent. These predators kill a porcupine by biting its unprotected face or by flipping it over to expose the vulnerable underside. Plus they have an intense craving for salt. Porcupines cannot shoot them at predators as once thought, but the quills do detach easily when touched. For the most part, predators leave porcupines alone. A researcher posited that the only reason a lion in that situation was attacking a human was its frailty and the porcupine’s quill was the reason for it.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'factsking_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_9',133,'0','0'])); In North America, mountain lions are especially fond of porcupines and attack them frequently for feeding on them. Porcupines have special adaptations to help them chew. Three animals, however, has figured out how to eat porcupines. Predators: Many animals occasionally kill porcupines, especially young ones. They normally survive many years, with the record in porcupine longevity being 27 years. Moreover, great horned owls are also the only predators that feed on skunks as a matter of course, which makes the porcupine more exposed as their appearance cannot put off owls (as it would other predators who are not interested in skunks for prey). Carnivorous predators are broken up into an additional two types: those that primarily scavenge carcasses, and those that primarily hunt and kill prey on their own. Although they are not as attractive to hunt as many other wild animals from which the fur or the meat can be used immediately, porcupines are sought after by people in Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam, for eating. However, with such a spiky physique, they would surely have some difficulty in the bedroom. There are two different families of porcupines. Get smart with the Thesis WordPress Theme from DIYthemes. Rodents make up about 40% of all the mammal species on Earth. 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