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(Anonymous)
2007-02-04 01:22 am UTC (link)

Noooo.

Porcupines cannot throw their quills!

Q-5. WHY SHOULD I LEARN TO HOW TO GET RID OF PORCUPINES UNDER MY PORCH, HOUSE, CRAWLSPACE OR SHED?
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A. Porcupines living under your deck, house or shed pose a danger to humans, children and house pets due to the presence of their sharp, barbed quills. These modified hairs are painful and time-consuming to remove, and it can be quite traumatic for a child or pet to become stuck with them. It is a myth that porcupines throw their quills, and they are not usually aggressive creatures, but they will defend their space if an unknowing human or pet enters it. If a porcupine gets involved in a confrontation, it will often chatter its teeth. Dogs, especially, seem to love to chase porcupines, and they never learn. Livestock, such as cows, horses and sheep will also nuzzle porcupines, and the quills can cause severe medical problems if the animal is not treated promptly.

http://www.unitedwildlife.com/AnimalsPorcupines.html

Their quills are lightly embedded in the skin and come out easily. They're not thrown, though!

- Zoo Employee mouse

	loonylupinlover 2007-02-04 04:04 am UTC (link)
	Ack, sorry! Mostly exaggeration on my part, but still. Bad me. I don't think we have porcupines in my area, so we didn't go into them when I worked at the zoo. :-P I was just thinking of that scene in The Hatchet where the main character gets his face full of 'em. (Reply to this)(Parent)

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