There are lots of fun facts about the North American Porcupine. Did you know that?

• The North American Porcupine, also called the common porcupine and Canadian porcupine, is a member of the New World porcupine family of rodents.
• North American Porcupines are generally brown or gray in color but can also be white. They have a round, stocky body and strong, short legs as well as a short tail, small ears and small head. They have quills or barbed tipped hair on all parts of its body except for their stomach, nose, and soles of their feet .
• The North American Porcupine is the largest of all porcupines and is third largest rodent. Only the capybara and beaver are bigger! It measures 60 - 100 cm (24 - 39 in) in length from head to hind. Male porcupines weigh, on average, 5.5 kg (12 lb); the average weight of a female is 4.5 kg (10 lb).
• North American Porcupines, as the names suggests, are found in North America only. They live in coniferous, deciduous and mixed forested habitats as well as grasslands, tundra and semi-desert environments. They are native to Canada, Alaska, and much of the western and northern continental United States.
• The North American Porcupine is good tree-climber and spends much of its time in trees. It makes its den in hollow trees, fallen logs, rock piles and caves.
• The North American Porcupine is a nocturnal herbivore. It feeds on leaves, twigs, shrubs and bark during the night.
• North American Porcupines are solitary animals but will sometimes share a den. While they don't hibernate, they sleep a lot in winter.
• The North American Porcupine, like all other porcupines, uses its quills to defend it from predators. While it can't shoot its quills, it turns its back, raises its rump, and thrusts its quills at its attacker.