North American Porcupine Erethizon dorsatus (Linnaeus, 1758)S3S4    Synonyms: Erethizon dorsatum.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Mammalia   >   Order Rodentia   >   Family Erethizontidae   >   Genus Erethizon   

Status:

The presence of this species is often a surprise to Maryland residents. Porcupines are rarely encountered, but regular, in western Maryland, especially Garrett and Allegany Counties. Interstate 68 is a major barrier for the species, and many are found as roadkill on that highway.

Relationships:

Feeds on the inner bark of trees, especially Eastern Hemlock and Sugar Maple. Some large predators have learned to attack the species' belly and avoid porcupines' dangerous quills. These include the Fisher, Bobcat, and Coyote. In Maryland, vehicles on I-68 could also be listed as a major "predator".

There are 83 records in the project database.

View taxon at iNaturalist

View taxon at NatureServe

Search Google Images

Search MBP Facebook posts (beta | requires login)


[View seasonality details]
GA AL WA FR CLMOHOBABCHACEPGAACVCHSMKEQACNTADOWISOWO
A North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (6/2/2013). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

North American Porcupines in Frostburg, Maryland (10/2/2009). Photo by Mikey Lutmerding. (MBP list)(More of this species)

A North American Porcupine in Frostburg, Maryland (10/2/2009). Photo by Mikey Lutmerding. (MBP list)(More of this species)

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

A North American Porcupine in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/11/2011). Photo by Michael Douglas. (MBP list)

North American Porcupine in Washington Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (4/11/2008). Photo by J.B. Churchill. (MBP list)

North American Porcupine in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tom Feild. (MBP list)

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

North American Porcupine in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tom Feild. (MBP list)

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

A North American Porcupine track found at 1000 Acre Heath, Maine (7/4/2010). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/10/2014). Photo by Boyer and McDowell. (MBP list)

A North American Porcupine in Allegany Co., Maryland (2/16/2020). Photo by William Blauvelt. (MBP list)


View All Images

Use of images featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.