First off, did you know that Porcupines climb trees? Well, if you didn’t, it’s a good thing that Nancy Haun shared the photos she snapped of this guy up a tree in Assinins, near Baraga. Note the buds on the tree there, too. Nancy said, “Spring has sprung”, I sure would like to think so, but I’m sure we’re still in for a few good snowstorms yet in March, maybe even April.

I don’t know much about porcupines, except that they have 30,000 quills and once you get stuck with one, it’s not easy to get them out. Porcupines spend most of their time on the ground, but they’re good tree climbers and do so in search of food, like the buds you see on the end of the branches in today’s photos. Going out on those small branches to eat the buds, though, often lands them on the ground, because the branches aren’t strong enough to hold them. They will often build a nest up in a tree, too.

Today’s video gives all kinds of interesting facts about porcupines, especially how they’re designing new surgical staples to work more like a porcupine quill. Check it out...

As my grandpa yoosta say, in a crazy mix of Yooper Finnglish:

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Quote:

"🎵 Piikkisika piikkisika, porkenpine
jyrsi puuta, jyrsi puuta, alla time!🎵 "

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That gave me the Porky Heebie-jeebies.