North American Porcupine

Scientific name: Erethizon dosatum
Size: 78-90cm long including tail
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Natural range: throughout North America

Housing

• should be housed in an outdoor enclosure with a covered top
• enclosure should be as large as possible
• they tend to be solitary and should be housed individually
• Accessories: shelter or shed, if possible natural trees or branches for climbing, lots of objects to chew

Food

• mixture of a high quality cavy pellet and rodent blocks
• offer sweet potato, tubers and/or fresh fruits and veggies once to twice weekly

Breeding

• Maturity: 2 years old
• Gestation: 205-217 days
• Litter size: 1-2
• young are born with softened quills which harden in about an hour
• eyes open within an hour of birth
• should be fully weaned by 8 weeks old