But finally I looked around for the porcupine and couldn’t find him. All species of porcupines are solitary, slow moving animals that live in trees trunks, hollow logs, trees, burrows or rock crevices in the wild. are very likely to be chewed on by porcupines because of the salt present in human sweat. We rescued a baby porcupine one year ago. Hence, it is best to keep them separate from other pets, unless there is a rare occurrence where they get along together. Any objects handled by human hands like, wooden tool handles, gloves, hoses, tires, wooden structures etc. Hind foot is 3 – 3.6 inches (7.5 – 9.1 cm) long. One after another said they would not do it. What if later on you think keeping porcupine is not cool anymore? Even the biggest cat tree would be too small for the prehensile porcupines. But, it is never a good idea to to do so, unless you are pro. I am not a vet so I can’t tell you what could be the exact reasons why she’s got diarrhea. Snickers is a famous porcupine who became a star when his YouTube video went viral. Keeping a porcupine in your home is going to take some planning. If you want to bookmark it in your browser to read it later, you can do so by pressing Ctrl and D at the same time in your keyboard. The face is small and usually darker in color as compared to the rest of their body. Dogs and cats are curious in nature and might get hit by the quills due to their inquisitiveness. Use stainless steel or ceramic dishes to provide fresh water for your porcupine (this will prevent it from chewing through the container). They do call to attract mates and males tend to fight over females. Contrary to the popular belief, however, no species of porcupines shoot the quills in the air. Most likely they want to be left alone and are not really affectionate. If kept outdoors, you are going to need well ventilated structures that protect them from sun, wind and temperature extremes. Porcupines love to go dumpster diving whenever they get a chance but it is not a good idea to let them due to the high probably of various dangerous bacteria present in the dumpster. In the wild, their habitat ranges from the grasslands, shrub lands, mountains, forests and even deserts. $7.99 $ 7. ... KONG Safestix Fetch & Tug Dog Toy - Red - Small. If kept indoors, the temperature can be maintained to a constant 75 degrees for any species. But it is not only pets that are prone to be attacked. 99. 4.8 out of 5 stars 67. Sprinkle salt in their food or you can provide them with a block of mineral salt. Porcupines Become a Nuisance to Pet Owners in WVa By ROBERT SAUNDERS, The Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — First it was coyotes. There isn’t a vet or an animal rescue center around, do you think I can do something to help it? Aquariums are fine as long as it is well ventilated and spacious. I have decided to leave it tonight in the hope the mother will return. Share this article in your favorite social media sites: I recently adopted 4 Palawan Porcupines. Porcupine Quills in a Dog: What You Need to Know Porcupines are small mammals that reside in North America and are very present in the Rutland, VT area. It is not easy to take the quills out and without anesthetics it is going to hurt really bad. Their head is small but usually is also covered in quills. are prone to get attacked. I have taken her to the vet and they can find nothing wrong. I put some water and veggies/fruit in a couple of shallow plates — I’ll see if it eats anything or moves during the night. Buttercup the North American is spoiled also she jabbers at me till I pick her up. Where and how would one go about finding a porcupine, especially a young or baby one? This allows an animal to draw in its lips while gnawing. The good news is that hedgehogs are friendlier than porcupines. The truth is when it comes to pets and porcupines, the porcupine will always win! Maybe similar to Rabbits except for the quills and the smell. Whatever you do don’t make it feel threatened or frightened. The length not counting the tail is approximately 25 – 41 inches. Porcupines can be interactive and surprisingly affectionate, just be sure to pet them "along the grain" so that you don't get poked. Besides the incisors, they also have cheek teeth – the molars and premolars. For the porcupines that do not climb trees (terrestrial), like crested, cages need to be longer than taller. This is because once it gets used to you, your pets and the surroundings; it may have no fear of other pets, wild animals or humans. I looked everywhere. 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,000. Many dogs will be treated for porcupine quills more than one time. Porcupines have special adaptations to help them chew. There are definitely more cons in keeping porcupines then pros. They have a lot of daily needs which has to be taken into considerations. They usually learn to interact with their human caregivers in odd and engaging ways; some even respond to eye contact by swimming up and begging for food! Porcupines can be shipped! Read more. Can You Really Own a Porcupine as a Pet? To those who have pirated it and put their name on it, STOP! Once the porcupine is comfortable with your presence, slowly reach out and scratch it on the top of the head. They also have a special arrangement of their jaw muscles which helps them to chew more efficiently. Loud noises and extreme sounds can make porcupines nervous. I live in a small country … There are 29 species of porcupines and for various reasons not all of them can be kept as pets. Hence, they are not only painful but could also be deadly. Well they called me at the beginning of the next summer and asked me if we ever had any porcupine problems ever. Do not totally surprise them either. Another suggestion is to steam the fruits and veggies, just enough to make them little softer. I am writing from India…Was hoping if you could give me basic guidance on how to rescue an injured crested porcupine (an endangered species) near my home which is breathing shallow and has blood oozing from it’s nose… I think it’s been hit by some vehicle. That is how they got their name as Prehensile-tailed porcupines. It would lay down on the porch and just hangout all day. TY so much for this article! It prefers coniferous forest and mixed forest areas, although it may also be found in wetlands, deserts, and shrub-land habitats. You can also use beef bones (like those for a dog), which is also a good source of calcium. ... Large Porcupine Balls: Sugar Glider Toy, small bird toy, primate toy, exotic animal toy, small pet toy, parrot toy BonBonGliders BonBonGliders. However, I don’t think milk and bread alone is sufficient. Currently she has two rescue cats and two, five-year old fantail goldfish. In the wild their diet varies from twigs, berries, barks, leaves, roots, stem and other vegetation depending on the seasons and species of porcupines. When fall came around my porcupine disappears off into the woods, I figured he was gone forever. 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. Also due to their predatory nature, dogs don’t usually learn their lessons after they get quilled once. One of the best times to bond with a pet porcupine is their snack time. There could be many reasons why your baby porcupine has diarrhea. That porcupine had so much to talk about, it would sit there everyday and snuggle up against my back or legs as I sat on the ground. Furthermore, if the quill breaks within the body, it can lead to infections. I figured it went into the woods and died. I have been kicking the idea of owning a porcupine for a while, but after seeing the video, & reading the entire article, I think I’d rather enjoy my porcupines at the zoo or in the wild from a distance. Of course they said that it never got upset. Porcupines Become a Nuisance to Pet Owners in WVa By Associated Press , Wire Service Content Dec. 12, 2020 By Associated Press , Wire Service Content Dec. 12, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. While going through boxes of dog-related material one day, I came across some interesting facts about porcupines. It can end up getting killed because it may not be used to using the quills for defensive purpose when it needs to. Something as simple as slamming the door little harder can lead to misunderstandings and consequently a disaster. I sat super super still not wanting to get quilled. Porcupines are solitary creatures that live in rocky dens or in trees. Before you bring a porcupine home, be sure you are fully prepared for the responsibility this exotic animal brings. Feeding them twice a day and fruits snacks couple of times in between should be ideal. The North American porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum, is a large rodent that is common in Utah. Even though there are 29 species of the porcupine, the one most commonly kept as a pet is the North American porcupine (it is also the largest). They are also legal to keep in some US states like Utah and New York. Whatever you do, do not be threatening or aggressive or else you are going to deal with the consequences of being quilled. This article is laid out for you in great detail to help you guide and decide if you really do want a pet porcupine. Porcupines do need their teeth in order to survive. Before you keep any porcupines, you have to make sure they are legal to keep as pets where you stay at. You may be wondering, “what about the quills?”. In some states like New York and Utah, you can keep them legally. At the end of that summer I had to move far away. They are not cuddly like cats and dogs nor are they like birds, reptiles, fish or other mammals. I’ll trap it and bring it to safety if it’s still there tomorrow. Other major reason is the difficulty in housing them. This porcupine is also an excellent climber and spends the majority of its time in the trees. You are going to need a cut out ‘big sturdy’ tree branch for Prehensile-tailed porcupines. They do not hibernate but will stay “indoors” during inclement weather. If you think the porcupine is the right pet for you, be sure to check with your city’s bylaws to ensure it is legal to own one. When other pets are around, this could be a concern because naturally other pets like dogs and cats are very inquisitive. Check out our small porcupine selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Porcupines definitely smell a lot more. This species has black to brownish-yellow fur under sharp quills (which are modified hollow hairs with a solid base and a solid, sharp barbed tip). Ground dwelling ones like the African crested porcupines love digging for roots in the wild so they may also enjoy eating edible tubers and tuber roots like yams and sweet potatoes. After a baby porcupine was rejected by his mom at Cotswold Wildlife Park in Oxfordshire, England, he became best friends with his surrogate mother’s wiener dog. 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 %. Now on the other hand let us look at some cons of keeping pet porcupines. There are 2 kinds of porcupines. I do see another one waaaay up in a nearby tree, but it looks quite small as well. I wonder if anything happened to the parent porcupines. […] a degree — and some even grow to be affectionate toward humans — but bear in mind they’re solitary creatures who can become violent when […]. Nose is a vulnerable spot. I about pooped myself. I have to be real honest here. They are full of energy, curiosity and needs. If your pet spends a fair amount of time outdoors, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) wants to make sure you have all the facts about these spiky rodents to help you keep your pets from letting curiosity get the best of them. They are nocturnal but can also be active during days. From that day on that porcupine stole my heart!! It can even make a variety of sounds like wails, moans, teeth clicking, coughs, grunts, and shrieks. Porcupine winter dens may be found in hollow trees and logs, small caves and rock piles. Slightly steamed veggies like broccoli, squashes, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach and pumpkin works wonders as well. We have to understand that just like other exotic pets we have tamed overtime, porcupines could be amazing pets too. 36. These porcupines can climb like a squirrel and hang like a possum. From shop BonBonGliders. North American ones are also noted to be really good swimmers because the hollow quills helps them stay afloat in water. So far his video has reached over 3.9 million views. I knew it was my old friend Spike. Like I mentioned in the cons above, the major worry is about the quills. This species has black to brownish-yellow fur under sharp quills (which are modified hollow hairs with a solid base and a solid, sharp barbed tip). https://www.thesprucepets.com/exotic-pets-for-apartment-living-1238589 In such case, sadly, the rodent may not survive. "North American porcupines all vocalize but Teddy is more talkative than most," she said. Well about a month goes by, I wasn’t looking for my poop little friend anymore and to my amazement here he is in my front yard once again!!! I happened to look in the field next to the carcass and saw a young porcupine. ... A quick right click on the regular porcupine to abandon pet and I was ready to deterrence and tame beast. They have as many as 30,000 quills on the back, tail and sides and use them as a defense against predators. Apples are a favorite of this animal, as well as yellow pumpkins and corn on the cob. When you said ‘large 4 front teeth’, I am thinking you mean the incisors. He has recently lost all his large 4 front teeth. Any suggestions? I always think that a Porcupine is too dangerous but after reading your article, I like to have one as my pet. Porcupines are the third largest rodent in the world. You should definitely try to contact the closest ‘animal shelters and rescue of endangered species in India’ asap. Ash is an African Crested Porcupine from the Illumination film Sing. He would let me pet him and talk with him and we developed a close bond. If your pet spends a fair amount of time outdoors, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) wants to make sure you have all the facts about these spiky rodents to help you keep your pets from letting curiosity get the best of them. They also love corn on a cob and yellow pumpkins. Porcupines can be housed outdoors or indoors but I recommend housing them indoors because better temperature control is possible indoors. Porcupines are not very popular pets because of their quills. Depending on where you live, it may be illegal to keep some species of porcupines. Porcupines are considered exotic pets because they are wild animals and not typically kept as pets. Fishers are small mammals — typically 8 or 9 pounds — that are members of the weasel family. 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. 4.5 out of 5 … 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. Drove back and found the little guy again and took him home. Free shipping on orders of $35+ and save 5% every day with your Target RedCard. Can a baby porcupine attack successfully with quills just like a older one? That means that dogs will never come out on the winning end of a porcupine encounter — even if your dog was more curious than aggressive toward the prickly creature. Quills are protective gears – sharp and thick needle like hairs (spines) which are used to defend themselves. Large Porcupine Balls: Sugar Glider Toy, small bird toy, primate toy, exotic animal toy, small pet toy, parrot toy BonBonGliders BonBonGliders. Line the enclosure with straw or wood shavings, as it will need to be cleaned every day. While going through boxes of dog-related material one day, I came across some interesting facts about porcupines. The smaller prehensile South American counterparts have no quills on the tail but they do use their tail to climb trees and hang on branches just like a possum does. Pet hedgehogs have an average life span of four to six years and weigh about a pound. If you choose to house your pet porcupine outdoors, be sure the enclosure is well-ventilated and protects them from the elements, extreme heat, and cold. Their unique features have generated great interests from some humans but a majority of us wouldn’t be looking to keep porcupines as pets. Easy peasy. So they need to be housed from 70 – 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Right now we have an albino Crested male , he has been in the house for almost a year. We sold the house to a very nice couple. Their unique features have generated great interests from some humans but a majority of us wouldn’t be looking to keep porcupines as pets. Porcupines are herbivores. Porcupines and Pets: All About the Quill. North American are impossible to house train but the African Crested are very clean animals, pokey has his same place he uses all the time in the laundry room on paper. (Please be sure to share if you have seen such circumstances in the comments below.). They are such sweet critters, wish they didn’t have such a bad rap. They harden up within a few days after birth. Mighty punch with a tail full of quills is going to be painful no doubt. Building a friendship with a porcupine takes time and patience. He actually came when I called him this last weekend!! Any curious domesticated animals like horse, cow, sheep etc. What you can do right now is make it as comfortable as possible. I think pokey is the exception because he’s broke to a leash, shakes hands and will lay next to me on the floor on a blanket. They have easygoing personalities and are common in conifer, evergreen forests, woodlands and deserts throughout the North American and some parts of South American continent. Is this article helpful? It’s always best to have the porcupine come to you while in a sitting position on the floor. “Any time pets encounter porcupine quills, there is a chance it could be fatal,” said VPI’s Director of Veterinary Marketing Dr. Silene Young. If bones are used they will warn you first by showing their quills at a slight thought danger! Without it getting too upset few days after birth, which is also covered in quills it! Been known to chew on at all times and it hasn ’ t such. '' she said share if you want to keep some species of porcupines birds,,. Slight thought of danger quills, they have quills which can cause illness and even rolls on back! 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