Bad day or good day for a porpentine?

[batwrangler]

I caught site of this porcupine* on my way home from work yesterday -- when I noticed it, it was lower on the tree but moving quickly, so I'm guess I just missed it dashing across the road. I was able to turn onto a side road and hike along the margin of the highway on the other side of the guard rail from traffic to get a few pictures. And I only found one tick on my pants when I tick-checked back in my car.

Long shot:


Close up:


Road rash?


Click through any of the pictures for a couple more at flickr.

*North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) in southern NH, USA.

Comments

[chromatographic]

Very nice shots! I'm a tad jealous - I've never seen a porcupine in the wild. I will have to keep an eye out when I find myself back in NH this summer!

[weaverbird]

Oh very cool! I've never seen a porcupine IRL. Thanks for posting!

[rydra_wong]

Having clicked through, I love the one where it's got its back to the camera and is just this little hummock of spines. *g*

[dratinis]

Oh gosh, that's so adorable!!

[sid]

Joining the "I've never seen a porcupine" list. :-)

[foxfirefey]

Oh my gosh. I've seen a porcupine before (once at a zoo, once running across a road) but never in a tree.

[fadedwings]

Wow, that is awesome! Great pics. I've never seen a porcupine out in the wild before. So cool.

[zillah975]

Oh, those are wonderful! And HOLY CRAP THEY CLIMB TREES? That makes them even moar awesome! Thank you so much for posting these. :)

[sakurablossom]

I didn't know they could climb trees! :)

[afuna]

Oh my goodness! I didn't realize that they climb trees!

[lark_ascends]

How awesome!

[erratical]

I've seen a number of porcupines, but none of them alive. =( They get hit by cars a lot.
It's cute! And seems like a good place to hang out. No cars up there.