Native To Canada, Northern U.S.
The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Queens Zoo has welcomed a new porcupine to its animal family.
A young, one year old North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) born at the Bronx Zoo rests on a tree branch now resides at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Queens Zoo.
Porcupines are known for their sharp quills that cover the majority of their bodies. Although a porcupine will first try to flee or climb its way out of danger, it will use its quills if cornered.
A common misconception is that porcupines throw their quills. Instead, they raise the quills in defense, turning their backs to strike at potential predators. The quills have a small barb at the tip, causing them to stick in a predator and cause great pain.
The North American porcupine is a rodent native to much of Canada, the western United States, New England, and northern Great Lakes states. It is North America’s second largest rodent, only surpassed in size by the beaver.
The Queens Zoo’s North American porcupine lives in the zoo’s aviary, which also houses birds native to North and South America including macaws, egrets, quail and many species of ducks.
The aviary is a remnant from the 1964 World’s Fair. The geodesic dome design is an original structure that was on display during the historic exposition held in Flushing Meadows Corona Park 50 years ago. In 1968, the dome was rebuilt and repurposed, becoming the aviary it is today.
