North American Porcupine

The North American porcupine is a large, slow-moving rodent native to forests and shrublands across much of North America, covered in tens of thousands of sharp, barbed quills mixed among its fur, which it raises and can drive into an attacker's skin as a highly effective defense, though contrary to popular belief it cannot shoot its quills. It is mainly nocturnal and an excellent climber, spending much of its time in trees feeding on bark, twigs, leaves and buds, and it has a particular appetite for salt, which sometimes draws it to gnaw on items such as tool handles or vehicle parts that have absorbed road salt or sweat. North American porcupines are generally solitary, and the species remains widespread and is classified as being of least concern.