A Lesson in Social Distancing from the Quillpig
Most of us will probably admit that if children had the opportunity to snuggle up with our wild mammal neighbours safely, they would do so gladly. Raised in a world of Disney and cuddly pets, it seems to be the dream. With the exception of one mammal; most children would not willingly try to hug a porcupine.
The porcupine is as close as you could come to a walking trap. They are covered in close to 30,000 modified hairs with the specific purpose of inflicting pain and discomfort on any creature willing to try to eat them. These sharp quills can be raised or lowered on command, and they’re barbed. These barbed quills are smooth going in and covered in microscopic hooks so that once imbedded in the flesh of the attacker they will work their way deeper with every muscle movement. This can lead to a very painful lesson in proper etiquette around respecting a porcupine’s personal bubble or, for the less fortunate predator, death. Don’t worry, porcupines do not throw quills, but they can swat you with their tails if you are too threatening.
However, being the most uniquely defended animal in the forest makes these creatures much safer to approach. Their confidence in their quills means that you can calmly and respectfully get rather close to a porcupine to observe them. As long as you give them a few meters space, they really don’t mind having others nearby as they forage and go about their day. Most biologists will report that it is rather difficult to get a porcupine to alter its gait as they are so sure of themselves.
The North American porcupine has evolved into a special niche of the forest that few others can reach. They might look cumbersome on the ground but their claws and tail are adapted to make them very skilled climbers. They have been described as ‘the giraffes of North America’ as they are one of the few species able to feast on the tree top canopies. This means that there is almost always plenty of food for them because they eat the vegetation out of the reach of most other herbivores.
Another rather endearing personality trait of this big rodent is that, despite being un-huggable, solitary animals, they are not territorial. Their dens in tree cavities or on the ground are so simple that if a porcupine comes across someone using their current den, they will just wander off to find another den, or if they can do so safely, they will just share.
In a COVID-19 world where we are being asked to maintain our 6 feet from our neighbours, let us remember to live like a porcupine. Trust in the safety of your distance; when you do meet someone, don’t be hostile because there is plenty to go around, and if you have to share your den make sure you are a generous host. We are all in this together.
