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Porcupine

On Saturday, we spotted a porcupine lumbering along a field near the New Fork River. It walked over to a cottonwood tree and climbed high into the upper. For such an awkward looking animal, it moved and climbed surprisingly quickly.

Porcupines have quills as a defense mechanism. The quills, which number around 30,000, detach easily if something foolishly decides to attack the animal. Porcupines are vegetarian, feeding on leaves, buds, twigs and the bark of trees. They can get up to three feet long and weigh as much as 26 pounds.

Photos by Dawn Ballou