actus, a Porcupine

I have seen a few porcupines in the wild, but usually they have been killed on the road by cars. My daughter saw one in town a few years ago. It was waddling across a road not a mile from our home. "Cactus" and "Spike" are the first live porcupines I can recall ever seeing. I was surprised by their gentle nature. The "porkys" were being hand-fed at the High Desert Museum near Bend, Oregon, where they live, when I took this photo. "Cactus" was a new addition at that time, but according to information on their website link below, she is now a mother! She awoke, and came out of her den, which is the picture below. Then she climbed up the rocks and onto the lap of the caretaker, who was feeding Cactus and Spike. "At the Museum, Spike, who was born here, is 11, Cactus, who was brought to the Museum as a cub, or porcupette, is seven, and Dart, their offspring, is 3." (This information is from the High Desert Museum homepage link below)

(photo � 1990 Barbara Logan)

"Cactus," at a young age, at the High Desert Museum
near Bend, Oregon, 14 October 1990.

Homepage - High Desert Museum

Information - High Desert Museum

All About Porcupines
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Wildlife Notebook Series

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This page was last updated 25 January 2004 � Barbara Logan
URL is http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~soakbear/foto2.htm