Porcupine

Erethizon dorsatum

Meet Barb and Sandy!

They arrived at Maymont in July 2025 at approximately 3 months old. Because they were habituated to humans from the time of their birth, they were not able to be released into the wild and they needed a permanent home. Similar to elk and bison, porcupines were once a common species in Virginia that were extirpated (locally extinct) by hunting and habitat loss in the mid-1800s.

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Keeper's Notes

They love to climb up to the highest places within their habitat to rest and hang out. This is a natural behavior as an arboreal species, spending 80% of their time in trees and about 20% of their time on the ground foraging. If you don’t see Barb or Sandy on the ground in their habitat, make sure to look up in the trees and climbing structures.

Porcupines are solitary animals, but they can be housed together successfully. Barb and Sandy get along most of the time, but we do monitor them closely to assure safety when they are together.

Barb and Sandy love stinky things. The keepers provide items with scents like cooking spices, animal fur or bird feathers. Some of their favorite food items are sweet potato and corn on the cob!

Barb is more assertive and forthright, and Sandy tends to be quieter, gentler and a little more curious.

Species Info

DIET

In winter, they primarily eat evergreen needles and the inner bark layers of woody shrubs and trees; in spring and summer, they feed primarily on grasses, sedges, dandelions, violets, clover, alfalfa and grains.

SIZE

Average about 13 lbs, but can weigh as much as 25 lbs; up to 3 ft long

LIFESPAN

Average 6 years in the wild; and up to 18 years in care settings

HABITAT & RANGE

Wide range of habitats across North America including forests, grasslands, shrublands, tundra and even desert shrub communities

CONSERVATION STATUS

Commonly found throughout of the northeastern and western regions of North America

Quick Facts

Porcupines are the second-largest rodents after beavers in North America.

Due to their always growing incisors (long, front teeth), they need to chew on hard items like trees and bone to wear them down. We provide deer and elk antlers for our porcupines to chew on, which are a good source of calcium.

Historically, porcupines were common in Virginia until the mid-1800s. There are reports of porcupine populations expanding into Virginia from Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Recently, porcupines have been confirmed in Virginia’s western counties.

Porcupines have three layers of fur: long guard hairs, quills (approximately 30,000), and underfur. The quills are not thrown or shot as in myths; rather, they bristle when attacked and release quickly when the barbed ends become embedded in the skin of the attacker.

Resources:

Porcupine | Virginia DWR

Explore

Virginia Wildlife Trail

The Robins Nature Center

Maymont Farm

Adopt These Animals!

Through a symbolic adoption, you help us care for our porcupines and all the animals in Maymont’s care.