Quill Counting

30,000 quills, give or take.  That's how much the average porcupine is packing.

Mardy, Betty Ellen, Roger and Paige met this lovely chap on a hike to the Mountain Lookout here at Bondi.  

Short sighted and slow moving, these animals are relatively easy to approach. Don't get too close, though... their defense is their quills, and while porcupines do not "shoot" quills, when they whip their heavy tails loose quills do come detached and 'fly'.

Sometimes, due to accident or mishap, the porkies manage to quill themselves. They are very dexterous at removing quills with teeth and paws, but we don't recommend you try that at home.

Look for them in the tree tops, where they enjoy munching on a luncheon of bark.  Solitary for most of the year, porcuipines sometimes group together in winter.  While they don't hibernate, they stay without about 100 metres of their winter den, so if you are here in winter and find their tracks, take a few minutes to track them.

They are not aggressive, unless you corner them -- then they will start backing toward you, tail lashing, and if you are smart, you will take the hint.   

Thanks Mardy for sharing the pictures!