Porcupines have poor eyesight, but their senses of smell and touch are highly developed to assist them in finding food at night, when they are most active. They feed on vegetation, including twigs, roots, berries, and even tree bark.
They have many avenues to avoid predation, beyond just their quills. They can also produce a skunk-like odor to ward off enemies, and will flee into trees where most predators cannot follow. One notable exception is the fisher, a relative of the weasel that preys on porcupines. They will target the animal’s face and underbelly, which are the only areas not covered by protective quills.
Porcupines are long lived animals, and can reach up to 30 years old in the wild.
