I've seen several ambling along.
I brought its heavy body up onto the open lot, so the vultures would get rid of it for us. There was just one vulture, although I've seen 8 at one time above the house. It only took about three days. The smell was horrid. I gave my grandkids a few porcupine quills, to look at them. This is sad, but it is the cycle of life. They move so slowly. Their claws are quite beautiful. Its head was a mess, so I won't show that. I knew the vultures would make quick work of it. Our vultures are frequent flyers!
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| Porcupine-eaten bark |
The North American porcupine is the only species that lives in the U.S. and Canada, and is the largest of all porcupines. A single animal may have 30,000 or more quills. North American porcupines use their large front teeth to satisfy a healthy appetite for wood.
Fast Facts: Porcupine
Scientific name: Erethizon dorsatum
Average weight: 5.5 kg (male) 4.5 kg (female)
Average height: 60 to 100 cm
Average lifespan: 10 years or more
Average weight: 5.5 kg (male) 4.5 kg (female)
Average height: 60 to 100 cm
Average lifespan: 10 years or more
When baby porcupines are born their quills are soft, but within an hour they harden.
Here's a video from early spring!
Recent trailcam video:
Here's a video from early spring!
porcupine from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
6 comments:
Hari OM
You pay it honour. The cycle is served. YAM xx
Vultures have a job to do in life and they do it well (if there are enough of them). Good for the girls to learn about the cycle of life and nature... excep it is hard when cars (and other human activities) contribute in such sad ways.
That must have been a heavy carry. Nature does take care of itself if we let it. - Margy
It's rather sad that the porcupine in nature doesn't have to hurry or even be alert. Most critters leave him alone.
You must know how to move a porcupine safely, and how do vultures eat past the quills? I guarantee that this is something that I have never thought about before now. lol
The vultures are quite efficient.
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