Originally Posted by
rumrunn6
back to porcupines. I was once exploring in NH, in my Jeep & came across an enormous dead porcupine along a paved road. I thought it would be interesting to take photos. so I turned around & approached on foot. I never touched the animal but I did get close to take close up photos & somehow I was struck, or stung or whatever you call it by at least 1 maybe 2, I don't remember, quills! I swear I never touched it because it smelled gross & flies were swirling around it. do those things have proximity sensors & can shoot quills?! even after death?! eek! anyway - it's a beast to avoid for sure!
They absolutely cannot shoot the quills. We have a very dedicated and knowledgeable wildlife rehabilitator here in Chelmsford, with a large following on FB, Instagram, Patreon, etc., and this is one of the things she has to keep telling people. The quills are purely defensive and porcupines, if left alone, are very peaceful animals. However, the barbs on those things are nasty indeed.