Porcupine Baby Debuts at Prospect Park Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: June 14, 2021 11:10 pm

A North American porcupine baby was born at the Prospect Park Zoo in February and is now making its debut on the zoo’s Discovery Trail

Photo Credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

Prospect Park Zoo has introduced a North American porcupine born in February to mother Needles and father Spike.

With her parents names the porcupette has fittingly been named Barb, a reference to the species characteristic quills.

A North American porcupine baby was born at the Prospect Park Zoo in February and is now making its debut on the zoo’s Discovery Trail

Photo Credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

Currently the exhibit times are varying until the youngster is acclimating to being on exhibit.

Porcupines are most notable due to their sharp quills. Up to 30,000 of these quills may be found across their body which act as a defense against predators.

Despite a common belief that they can shoot their quills they cannot. They do have a small barb at the tip though that hooks in to skin and leaves it stuck in the skin when the porcupine pulls away.

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At birth the porcupine is covered by soft quills which will soften soon after birth and then harden as they grow.

They will begin to eat solid food for the first time at three weeks old though they will continue to drink milk until they reach three months old.

A North American porcupine baby was born at the Prospect Park Zoo in February and is now making its debut on the zoo’s Discovery Trail

Photo Credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

North American porcupines are found across most of North America from Alaska in the North to Texas in the South.

Learn more about the Prospect Park Zoo on their website – Prospect Park Zoo

A North American porcupine baby was born at the Prospect Park Zoo in February and is now making its debut on the zoo’s Discovery Trail

Photo Credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS