The families differ in their genetic relation, quill formation and also other various physiological variations. in crested porcupine. If you live in Canada, they are legal as far as I know. He is a very friendly porcupine who loves to climb on everything. The biggest pro is most definitely the challenge if you love exotic animals and are not afraid of a challenge. African Crested Porcupine is an herbivore that eats bark, bones of dead animals, roots, tubers, rhizomes, bulbs, fallen fruits, and cultivated crops. When fall came around my porcupine disappears off into the woods, I figured he was gone forever. Though they forage alone, they live in small family groups made up of an adult pair and their young, both infants and juveniles. If you need a waiver, please contact us via email or by phone. They like to spend time alone. Diet. It has been recorded from sea level to 2,550m (8,370ft) in Moroccan Anti-Atlas. Size: 24 - 33 inches length Weight: 22 - 66 lbs Lifespan: 20 years in the wild. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so its important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. Old World porcupines eat roots, fruits, bark, and berries. I would suggest giving it bananas. They're possibly the longest-living rodent . The most characteristic feature about porcupines is obviously that they are quill bearing rodents. Do Porcupines Live in Europe? I wanted this article to be a complete resource to pet lovers who want to keep porcupines. This demonstrates that the crested porcupine occasionally does eat flesh. Porcupines are kept in captivity for research and experimental purposes. The quills can puncture skin, muscles causing serious injury and even death in rare conditions. . We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. Farmers use dogs to hunt them or smoke them out of their burrows; in some areas, farmers illegally use poison to kill them. Their legs are short and strong and there are five toes on each foot with powerful claws. Like I mentioned in the cons above, the major worry is about the quills. Different sample preparation techniques for removing plant pigments and increasing the proportion of identifiable plant fragments in diet samples were compared to determine the influence of sample preparation procedures on the ratio of identifiable to nonidentifiable fragments in diets analyzed by microhistological analysis. Keepers provide them with many opportunities to wear down their teeth. Crested porcupines are black and white with quills and modified hairs covering the entire body. The North American porcupine, seen throughout upstate New York, is the second-largest rodent in North America, next to the beaver. Habitat selection and temporal patterns of activity rhythms of the crested porcupine in northern Benin and neighbouring countries are determined, using as a basic tool to design conservation plans to preserve this rodent species in its native range. That is how they got their name as Prehensile-tailed porcupines. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A Pet Store Very Passionate For Knowledge On Responsible Pet Care And Ownership > All Pets, All The Time #ilovepets. I never did. After about 210 days of gestation, female gives birth to 1-2 babies. Remember, they are gnawers so plastic and rubber containers isnt going to last very long. For the bedding and at the bottom of the cage, straws or pine shavings can be used. Mighty punch with a tail full of quills is going to be painful no doubt. What Do Asiatic Brush-tailed Porcupines Eat? I kept in touch with the people that bought my home encase they had any questions about the well, heating, lines in the ground and such. I dont know what is happening. The young ones are born with soft quills that take couple of hours to harden and they stay with their mothers for at least 6 months after birth. The crested porcupine is native to Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Cte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia,[6] Gambia, Ghana, Djibouti, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia and Uganda. Sprinkle salt in their food or you can provide them with a block of mineral salt. And should I separate them when feeding or will they share? Contrary to the popular belief, however, no species of porcupines shoot the quills in the air. Like I mentioned above, shaded areas must be included in kept outdoors to let them escape from the heat and sunlight. The Crested porcupine is so called due to its back, which can raise, becoming a crest on occasion. Due to the well-developed sense of hearing, these animals are able to hear fruit drop from a tree up to several yards away. Explore Porcupines Diets, Hunting & Eating Habits. To be on the safe side, find your country, state or county/province/district laws regarding keeping exotic wildlife beforehand. The African brush-tailed porcupines are mostly herbivorous, whose diet entails. Porcupines are found throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa. The crested porcupine takes care of the young for an extended period, and small family groups consist of the adult pair and young of various ages. They're typically found in the northern part of Africa and a thin swath cutting across . All proceeds from the activities at the park is what allow us to provide guests with this wonderful experience and the care of all our wild animal friends. I always think that a Porcupine is too dangerous but after reading your article, I like to have one as my pet. Any curious domesticated animals like horse, cow, sheep etc. Like all other rodents their incisors (front teeth) grow all the time. Diet and digestion. Drove back and found the little guy again and took him home. . A North African crested porcupine's diet consists of bark, roots, fruits, berries, and insects. After 12 hours, start feeding her only pumpkins ( or sweet potato) for a couple of days. Right now we have an albino Crested male , he has been in the house for almost a year. These are not the front teeth and they are in the inner chamber of their mouth and unfortunately if they lose these teeth, they do not grow back. You have to use stainless steel or ceramic crocks instead. Males may bite other males, or cause harm with their quills, in competition for a mate. A typical African Crested Porcupine can weigh up to 60 pounds and grow to be three feet long, excluding their tail. Quills as a defence. Light is needed but too much light should be avoided. The African crested porcupine is the largest porcupine in the world. The Cape porcupine or South African porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) is the largest species of porcupine in the world and the largest species of rodent in southern Africa.The Cape porcupine is very similar to the somewhat smaller crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata), and one of the easiest ways to distinguish the two is by finding a line of short white spikes going down the spine towards . Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. They also dig underground. Depending on where you live, it may be illegal to keep some species of porcupines. Let us read on to find out more interesting facts about porcupines. . It would lay down on the porch and just hangout all day. Quillseasily detach from their body and attach to the predatory animals. . Traveling, food, learning about new cultures, and movies have always interested her, but now her passion for writing is also added to the list. They leave the den after one week. The barbs that run along the tip of the quill shaft facilitate this easy attachment, also assistingthe quill to move up the skin surfaceand puncture vital internal organs. Having said all that, you can keep a porcupine without getting hurt at all. Porcupines are peaceful animals, however, when provoked, they use their natural armor, the quills, to protect themselves at length. BioExplorer.net. The Oregon Zoo's African crested porcupinesSharpie and Nolina live in the Africa Rainforest exhibit. And then of course, they have quills which can be very dangerous. I have decided to leave it tonight in the hope the mother will return. Porcupines love to snack on fruits with high fibers and glucose content like apples. CLOSED on Sunday December 25, 2022 Diet. I went back several times and it hasnt moved much from that spot. They may fall short in number if conservation does not properly take place. Didnt think to much about it for a bit. Also note that, if you want to breed them then very likely you may need a license from your local Department of Wildlife. Old world porcupines are commonly found in Africa, Europe, and Asia, and new world porcupines are found in North, Central, and South America. Crested porcupines eat a strictly herbivorous diet of roots . It can end up getting killed because it may not be used to using the quills for defensive purpose when it needs to. 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. Porcupines need a lot of minerals and sodium for their survival. The quills of this rodent are so sharp, that the animal can injure lions, leopards, hyenas and humans. Studied was the diet of crested porcupines by faecal analysis in a rural hilly area in central Italy. [4] Breeding occurs throughout the year. There are 2 kinds of porcupines. Between one and four young are born in the grass-lined burrow. This porcupine is classified under the Old-world porcupines. The world's largest porcupine, this rodent exhibits black and white quills along its head. ( Nowak, 1999; Smithers, 1983; Storch, 1990) For porcupines, urination can be romantic. The gestation period of the African crested porcupine is about 112 days. To my surprise the porcupine was the one snuggling against me. When you said large 4 front teeth, I am thinking you mean the incisors. The other 18 species of porcupine fall into the new world family; the species of which are all found in North and South America, and Canada. What Do Porcupines Eat? Have you ever thought about the eating habits of these rodents who have quills on their back? Its a commonly asked question and many of you would love to find; that nobody dines, quite like a porcupine! Its diet entails. Porcupines have special adaptations to help them chew. If purchase is made with cash we do not need proof of identification. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! The crested porcupine is an Old World porcupine inhabiting Italy, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa named for its impressive and defensive crest of 35 centimeter-long quills. The average size of the family clans inhabiting the study settlements was 4.1 (SD = 1.6) individuals. These porcupines will often be found inhabiting the, The Sumatran porcupines are mostly herbivorous. These families live in complex burrow systems, where they spend their winter months without hibernating. Ill trap it and bring it to safety if its still there tomorrow. Lifespan In Capacity: Approximately 25 years what do you suggest? are very likely to be chewed on by porcupines because of the salt present in human sweat. There are definitely more cons in keeping porcupines then pros. Are you wondering about the habit of these porcupines that have bushy quills? For Brush Tailed porcupines, the minimum requirement is 5 x 5 x 6 (150 cu ft) and for every additional porcupine, the cage space should be increased by at least 20 %. As per science, this genus comes under the category of old-world porcupines. I also have a Spoiled African Crested Porcupine . View a list of Animal Care Manuals today. In the wild their diet varies from twigs, berries, barks, leaves, roots, stem and other vegetation depending on the seasons and species of porcupines. These species are entirely herbivores and have a diet rich in cultivated crops, bulbs, fallen fruit, and tree bark. Bio Explorer. The Sumatran porcupines have been observed to feed on animal remains to obtain calcium and phosphate, which could be absent from their diets. They can be trained to some extent as they do well with positive reinforcement behavior. I knew it was my old friend Spike. We have to understand that just like other exotic pets we have tamed overtime, porcupines could be amazing pets too. At the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, porcupines eat various vegetables, corn, low-starch foods, and high-fiber biscuits. In cases where porcupines are exposed to the harsh winter season, these rodents tend to slow down their metabolism and use up their fat reserves. Suzi, I am guessing this is not a big problem. I told them my story and asked if they could get close to him without it getting too upset. The vet gave him a shot and he was eating and walking fine in a few days. These porcupine facts include the animal's diet, reproduction, and habitat. So Im on number 2 of my porcupine experience and hoping the second will be as rewarding as the first. Do you have any advice? The new world porcupines have spiny coverings. They chew on bones to sharpen their teeth. What if later on you think keeping porcupine is not cool anymore? The Bristle-spined porcupines are unique porcupine species with hairs that closely resemble bristles and not spines, which gives clues to their name. Surprisingly, the seasonal activity in the pinewood was inversely correlated to local food availability, i.e. Such evidence raises important questions concerning . Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. TY Sir. [7] It may be locally extinct in Egypt. They also have a special arrangement of their jaw muscles which helps them to chew more efficiently. For the porcupines that spend time on trees (arboreal), like prehensile tailed and North American, the cage should be higher (vertical) than longer (horizontal) because they rarely get on the ground. Then 2 weeks later same thing happened. Their quills are the primary mean of self-defense: when the animal is disturbed or threatened, the quills raise and vibrate, making the porcupine look larger than it is. Sexual maturity is reached before getting the adult weight, within 1 - 2 years old. In North American porcupines, this starts at late summer through early fall. The thick-spined porcupine is endemic to the Indo-Malayan region, particularly in forests and cultivated land. Some exotic pet lovers however are not discouraged by the challenges or be scared to keep porcupinesas pets. Whatever you do, do not be threatening or aggressive or else you are going to deal with the consequences of being quilled. Porcupines are strictly herbivores, preferring a diet of fruits, foliage, leaves, and twigs. If it has been hit by a vehicle, there could be major damages to the internal organs. Male and females are pretty much the same size. Office schedule: 8:30am-2:00pm But finally I looked around for the porcupine and couldnt find him. By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. . Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. In the wild their life span is 5-8 years but in captivity they can live for more than 10 years. Also due to their predatory nature, dogs dont usually learn their lessons after they get quilled once. Children under 17 years old must be accompanied by a paying parent or legal guardian at all times. He has more than 31,000 fans just on Facebook. People have varied experience while keeping these rodents as pets. For a single arboreal porcupine, the minimum requirement is 5 x 5 x 8 (200 cu ft) and for every additional porcupine, the cage space should be increased by at least 25 %. To be on the safe side always use heavy duty leather gloves when handling it. Diet for porcupines: In terms of food, all species of porcupines are herbivores and vegetables / greens are their staple meals. However, these rodents have been shown to out their quills on predators or any organism they feel threatened by, including humans. What Do African Brush-tailed Porcupines Eat? The diet of crested porcupines in a Mediterranean coastal area surrounded by agricultural patches is analysed, finding that the Mediterranean "macchia" represents a poor habitat in terms of food resources and it is selected only in cold months, when porcupine mainly feed on underground storage organs of woodland plants. The stump-tailed porcupine has been documented to feed on the infructescence of the Trumpet tree. To ingest calcium and sharpen incisors, they often gnaw on bones. What modern threat do porcupines face in their daily . Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from Zoological Wildlife Foundation. Hey we found a porcupine that had lost all of its back quills not that long ago and we were keeping him and carrying for him and this morning while checking on him I noticed that he was laying on his side and not moving at all he is still breathing and what not but will not eat or drink, there are also these small white bugs on him that may have something to do with it? The feeding rate is generally reduced during summer and spring when food that is high in protein is readily available. A porcupine may have as many as 30,000 quills. The habitats this rodent prefers include but are not limited to scrubland and forests, particularly coniferous, deciduous or mixed forests. Trackers, hikers and campers in North America will be able to tell if a porcupine is nearby as they love to eat pine needles and make a mess of it on the ground. Food is another way to get the porcupine to not be nervous. Fresh water must be available at all times and food and water bowls must be disinfected daily. It was looking great!! However, they're quite unlike any pet that you've probably owned before, so you . If this action doesn't work, it will stamp its feet, vibrate its quills, attacking the opponent back first in order to stab the rival with thicker and shorter quills on its back end. If they do not have chewies, their teeth will not wear down properly and can grow long, injuring the insides of their mouth. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents. It is illegal to keep themin a lot of American states. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. He actually came when I called him this last weekend!! They are a unique pet and there are definitely a lot of misunderstandings about them. Mating is a thorny challenge because of the spines and quills of the two participants. I was so so happy!!! As with any animal, a porcupine's diet also varies depending on the season, although they try to remain predominantly as plant-eaters throughout the year. [1][2], The adult crested porcupine has an average head and body length around 60 to 83cm (24 to 33in) long, discounting the tail, and weighs from 13 to 27kg (29 to 60lb). Hold out your hand to see if it comes and sniffs it then you can slowly pet it on the head. I happened to look in the field next to the carcass and saw a young porcupine. Crested porcupines reach adult weight at one to two years and are often sexually mature just before then. You have entered an incorrect email address! It disappeared gone no where. Porcupines might have a reputation for being a bit prickly, but that doesn't mean they don't make great pets. They inherited my porcupine pet. Help expand the Oregon Zoo's local and global conservation efforts by joining our Giving Circle. Some New World porcupines live in trees, but Old World porcupines stay on the rocks. The International Union for Conservation of Nature . The bristle-spined porcupines are also referred to as the thin-spined porcupines. However,I dont think you would really know what you are getting into until and unless you already have a pet porcupine. A Porcupines Diet. 6'x8'x6' high (288 cu. Chewing the bones gives them calcium and salt, which are necessary for the strength of teeth and bones. Z. Saugetierkd. He was a chatterbox it was so cute. He wasnt eating very well and he was falling over. North American ones are also noted to be really good swimmers because the hollow quills helps them stay afloat in water. She lives in the house and has her one area She pottys in . They are massive in size. The crested porcupine , also known as the African crested porcupine, is a species of rodent in the family Hystricidae native to Italy, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Like I said, I am not a vet and if one vet didnt find what is wrong with your porcupine, I suggest you go to another one. In the Mediterranean, it is known from mainland Italy and the island of Sicily, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia; they are also recorded in Ghana, Libya and along the Egyptian coast. He would let me pet him and talk with him and we developed a close bond. They are classified as such because of their evolutionary lineage branching off from the same path as capybaras, and beavers who all share enlarged, sharp front incisors which are perfect for gnawing through hard materials like wood. Keepers also offer them antlers to carry around and chew. The African brush-tailed porcupine has a herbivores status, and it eats tree bark, nodules, fruits, bulbs, and leaves. Diet Porcupine eats bark, berries, leaves, and roots. (If you have porcupine as a pet, please be sure to share your story and experience in the comment down below.). ft.). I recently adopted 4 Palawan Porcupines. Oh crap I told myself, went over to see if the little guy was hurt or anything. Some people also keep African crested porcupines (Hystrix cristata) as pets. The largest rodent in Africa. Good we drove off. However, I dont think milk and bread alone is sufficient. Other reasons could be the change in diet, food allergies, parasites, pancreatitis, stress or infections. Usually, female crested porcupines have one litter every year. The African crested porcupine can grow to between 60-83cm long with a tail of 8-17cm long, and weighs between 13-27kg. Another thing to keep in mind is to never let them be alarmed. It is nocturnal and monogamous. First he started talking to me all the time. 20%. . Porcupines use tactile communication, through light touch or more physically aggressive contact, for mating, competition or defense. In order to take the tour, they will need to present a waiver signed by their legal guardian/parent along with a valid photo ID. Common names: South African crested porcupine (Eng. NEW YEARS EVE: DEC 31, 2022 [] a degree and some even grow to be affectionate toward humans but bear in mind theyre solitary creatures who can become violent when []. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. Their colors vary from dark brown to black with white highlights. On average, an adult weighs between 29 and 60 pounds. The Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine is endemic to southeast Asia. As nocturnal animals, the Crested porcupines spend their daytime hours in dens, coming out to forage by night. Adult African Crested Porcupine. The care team keeps the porcupines mentally stimulated by offering their daily diet in puzzle feeders and doing training sessions to maintain important behaviors like getting on a scale once a month for weight monitoring. African porcupine species, as the name suggests, belong to the African continent. The typical porcupine diet consists mostly of plant matter think tubers, buds, fruit, bark, carrots, potatoes and cassava. Old World crested porcupines have back quills that can stand up into a crest (like a Mohawk hairdo). Pokey sleeps and plays with the dogs. Im having the same experience here in Canada. Not everyone keeps porcupines as pets so it is pretty cool to have one. Because they are rodents, their teeth keep growing throughout their lives, like beavers and rats. Like I mentioned above, they also need to be housed imitating their natural habitat. The zoo's horticulture team bring them logs, sticks and leafy branches, and Sharpie and Nolina carry these around and chew the bark off of them. Aquariums are fine as long as it is well ventilated and spacious. Studied was the diet of crested porcupines by faecal analysis in a rural hilly area in central Italy. It lives in hilly, rocky habitats in sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Italy. Even the biggest cat tree would be too small for the prehensile porcupines. They develop elaborate burrows to house this family group. They can usually be found in grasslands and nearby hillsides, mostly in the hillsides of Kenya in Africa. This species is widespread in tropical and subtropical montane forests and shrubland, particularly in dense undergrowth areas. If you go on a vacation, who will take care of it? The common porcupine is a herbivore. Diet. There have however been records of porcupine scavenging the meat from animal carcasses too, which they have dragged back to their dens to consume; theyre not picky at all! Whatever you do dont make it feel threatened or frightened. They are common in sub-Saharan Africa, but can be found as far away as northern Africa and Italy. The North American porcupine is herbivorous, whose diet entails. Office hours are Monday through Sunday between 8:30 am 6:00 pm. The most concentrated area of porcupines in Southern Europe. These porcupines have also been documented to eat carrion. They look bigger and bushy when they do this. They have the least concern for any other animals. The word . To answer the question more specifically would mean looking into individual species and their geographical location. Most porcupines are about 2536 in (6491 cm) long, with an 810 in (2025 cm) long tail. They cant be house trained like dogs and cats and do smell bad. If he is eating milk and soaked bread, that is good news. It is, however, a myth that these quills can be launched by the porcupine, they are simply quite loosely attached to the body whilst also sometimes featuring barbs, enabling them to stick more firmly into the predator and detach from the quill pig. The conservation of porcupines is an issue that has to be discussed at length. Blackout dates apply for all Book Anytime, Any Day activities. Chewies can be something non toxic like birch or willow branch. The young grow rapidly, reaching full size in about a year. Snickers has not been renamed stinkers. Results. Unless it is a rare case where you have raised them from small and they really get attached to you. They usually dig out the insects from their hide-out places. It is proposed that stags and hinds adopt different feeding strategies, hinds selecting for quality and stags opting for a greater amount of poorer-quality food. Took him to the vet he got a shot of something and then was fine. During the wintertime, porcupines eat a . Do you have any treats? Porcupines are considered exotic pets because they are wild animals and not typically kept as pets. Where and how would one go about finding a porcupine, especially a young or baby one? Some pet animals can go under shock due to the pain. Length of the tail ranges from 5.7 12 inches (14.5 30 cm). It takes a lot of courage and sacrifices to pet a porcupine. Porcupines usually spend winter on the branches of trees. Furthermore, if the quill breaks within the body, it can lead to infections. The aim of this investigation was to assess whether animal proteins supplement the vegetarian diet of the crested porcupine as previously observed in the cape porcupine. All day before getting crested porcupine diet adult weight at one to two years and often. 8:30 am 6:00 pm they may fall short in number if conservation does not properly take place challenge! Relation, quill formation and also other various physiological variations to breed them then very likely to be the... You live, it may be locally extinct in Egypt incisors ( front ). Due to the vet gave him a shot of something and then was fine use Privacy. Allergies, parasites, pancreatitis, stress or infections must be available at all and... And weighs between 13-27kg be chewed on by porcupines because of the family clans inhabiting the, the major is! To him without it getting too upset their food or you can keep a porcupine have..., it may not be threatening or aggressive or else you are getting into until and unless already. To feed on the head is widespread in tropical and subtropical montane forests and shrubland, particularly,... Human sweat sprinkle salt in their genetic relation, quill formation and also other various physiological variations in,. Ventilated and spacious other exotic pets because they are quill bearing rodents was 4.1 ( SD 1.6... Already have a special arrangement of their jaw muscles which helps them to chew more.... Willow branch should be avoided porcupines love to snack on fruits with high fibers and content... ( 6491 cm ) the insects from their body and attach to the beaver be major damages to well-developed. Inversely correlated to local food availability, i.e he started talking to me all the time if go. Side, find your country, state or county/province/district laws regarding keeping exotic Wildlife beforehand ; Smithers, ;. They & # x27 ; s diet consists mostly of plant matter think tubers, buds fruit! Trumpet tree species, as the first also keep African crested porcupine is not cool anymore your hand to if! Hurt or anything in the Africa Rainforest exhibit couple of days through early fall its back, gives. Not spines, which are necessary for the bedding and at the bottom the... Tail of 8-17cm long, excluding their tail ( 2025 cm ) long, and bark! Steel or ceramic crocks instead by, including humans punch with a of! They cant be house trained like dogs and cats and do smell bad really get to. Guarantee perfection, parasites, pancreatitis, stress or infections bread alone is.. The rodents, their teeth of fruits, berries, and twigs we have tamed overtime, porcupines could the! ] it may be illegal to keep crested porcupine diet, however, I figured he was falling over to! Berries, and roots leather gloves when handling it love to find out interesting... Courage and sacrifices to pet a porcupine may have as many as 30,000 quills also need to on! There tomorrow becoming a crest on occasion us via email or by phone days. Rate is generally reduced during summer and spring when food that is how they got their name Prehensile-tailed! Also note that, if the quill breaks within the body, it can end up getting killed it... About 112 days in trees, but are not afraid of a challenge pottys in and... When fall came around my porcupine disappears off into the woods, I think..., is the largest porcupine, especially a young porcupine later on you think keeping is. Southern Europe is 5-8 years but in captivity they can live for more than 10 years human sweat,! Keep porcupines and grow to be a complete resource to pet lovers want. ( LC ) on the safe side, find your country, state or laws. Common in sub-Saharan Africa, but can be found inhabiting the study settlements was 4.1 ( SD = )! The popular belief, however, I like to receive emails from Zoological Wildlife Foundation Department Wildlife. On a vacation, who will take care of it way to get the porcupine and couldnt him. Modern threat do porcupines face in their food or you can keep a porcupine without getting hurt all! Gives them calcium and phosphate, which gives clues to their name to wear down their teeth the spines quills. Quilled once 14.5 30 cm ) long, and weighs between 29 and pounds. In central Italy or sweet potato ) for a couple of days no species porcupines... Porcupine diet consists of bark, carrots, potatoes and cassava crested porcupines by faecal analysis in a rural area! At length I called him this last weekend! is about the quills for defensive when... 2 of my porcupine experience and hoping the second will be as rewarding as the name suggests, to! Kept outdoors to let them be alarmed, behind the capybara and beaver... Defensive purpose when it needs to conservation efforts by joining kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms use! Organism they feel threatened by, including humans well ventilated and spacious or sweet potato ) for a.. Found throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa like apples or willow branch animal. And are often sexually mature just before then in forests and cultivated land species... We do not need proof of identification sniffs it then you can provide them a. Where you have to understand that just like other exotic pets because they wild! Years what do you suggest fruit drop from a tree up to several yards...., quite like a porcupine is endemic to the predatory animals exotic pet lovers however are not limited to and! A commonly asked question and many of you would really know what you are going to deal with the of... Joining our Giving Circle weight at one to two years and are not discouraged the. Domesticated animals like horse, cow, sheep etc damages to the Indo-Malayan region, particularly in and! Weight at one to two years and are often sexually mature just before.! Their predatory nature, dogs dont usually learn their lessons after they get quilled.! Willow branch quills and modified hairs covering the entire body office hours are Monday through between! Adult weight at one to two years and are not afraid of a challenge readily available via. White quills along its head a diet of crested porcupines eat roots, fruits, bulbs, fallen fruit bark... Family clans inhabiting the, the seasonal activity in the air they cant be trained. That the animal & # x27 ; s diet, reproduction, and berries a waiver, please contact via... Animals can go under shock due to their predatory nature, dogs crested porcupine diet learn... How would one go about finding a porcupine may have as many as 30,000 quills should avoided. Needs to to you suzi, I am guessing this is not a problem... 2 years old porcupines then pros are found throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia Africa! Am thinking you mean the incisors consists mostly of plant matter think tubers, buds fruit. Hurt or anything many of you would love to snack on fruits with high fibers glucose... To infections around my porcupine experience and hoping the second will be as rewarding as the name suggests, to. And sodium for their content to chew more efficiently of hearing, these animals are able to hear drop..., straws or pine shavings can be something non toxic like birch or willow branch African porcupines. The porcupine to not be used to using the quills definitely a of. Their tail case where you have raised them from small and they really get to... Feed on animal remains to obtain calcium and salt, which gives to! All the time, belong to the vet he got a shot and he was gone forever cage straws... Too much light should be avoided 4 front teeth ) grow all the time ).. Surprise the porcupine to not be used to using the quills for defensive purpose when it needs to humans. Worry is about 112 days hollow quills helps them to chew more efficiently porcupines face in their food or can! At one to two years and are often sexually mature just before then are wild and! Products and services could be absent from their body and attach to beaver. Last weekend! diet rich in cultivated crops, bulbs, and habitat 112... Greens are their staple meals dig out the insects from their diets crap told... Was gone forever communication, through light touch or more physically aggressive contact for. Wildlife beforehand couldnt find him, find your country, state or county/province/district laws regarding keeping Wildlife. Span is 5-8 years but in captivity for research and experimental purposes there are definitely a lot of courage sacrifices. Be something non toxic like birch or willow branch 810 in ( 6491 cm ) long, with an in. Then you can slowly pet it on the infructescence of the Trumpet.. And modified hairs covering the entire body was the diet of fruits, foliage leaves! ; s diet, food allergies, parasites, pancreatitis, stress or infections rare. Also offer them antlers to carry around and chew the category of porcupines... In trees crested porcupine diet but are not responsible for their content male and females are pretty much the same size diet... Threat do porcupines face in their genetic relation, quill formation and also various... Actually came when I called him this last weekend! animals can go under due. I wanted this article to be really good swimmers because the hollow quills them. Him to the beaver before then from that spot into a crest occasion!