A North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (6/2/2013).

Photo by Jim Brighton MBP List

North American Porcupines in Frostburg, Maryland (10/2/2009).

Photo by Mikey Lutmerding MBP List

A North American Porcupine in Frostburg, Maryland (10/2/2009).

Photo by Mikey Lutmerding MBP List

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. (Photo ID: 487054 - Psn: 20)

View Record Details Photo by Kyle Klotz MBP List

A North American Porcupine in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/11/2011).

View Record Details Photo by Michael Douglas MBP List

North American Porcupine in Washington Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 592626 - Psn: 42)

North American Porcupine in Washington Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Frode Jacobsen MBP List

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. (Photo ID: 980442 - Psn: 42)

View Record Details Photo by Kyle Klotz MBP List

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 569715 - Psn: 45)

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Josh Emm MBP List

A North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (4/11/2008).

Photo by J.B. Churchill MBP List

North American Porcupine in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 621755 - Psn: 55)

North American Porcupine in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Tom Feild MBP List

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. (Photo ID: 656909 - Psn: 65)

View Record Details Photo by Kyle Klotz MBP List

North American Porcupine in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Tom Feild MBP List

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Josh Emm MBP List

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. (Photo ID: 980438 - Psn: 68)

View Record Details Photo by Kyle Klotz MBP List

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. (Photo ID: 980443 - Psn: 68)

View Record Details Photo by Kyle Klotz MBP List

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. (Photo ID: 980445 - Psn: 75)

View Record Details Photo by Kyle Klotz MBP List

North American Porcupine in Carroll Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) bugologist2, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 1139082 - Psn: 88)

North American Porcupine in Carroll Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) bugologist2, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by bugologist2 via iNaturalist MBP List

A North American Porcupine track found at 1000 Acre Heath, Maine (7/4/2010).

Photo by Jim Brighton MBP List

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. (Photo ID: 490534 - Psn: 155)

View Record Details Photo by Kyle Klotz MBP List

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. (Photo ID: 490538 - Psn: 166)

View Record Details Photo by Kyle Klotz MBP List

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. (Photo ID: 490247 - Psn: 178)

View Record Details Photo by Kyle Klotz MBP List

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. (Photo ID: 490533 - Psn: 180)

View Record Details Photo by Kyle Klotz MBP List

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Josh Emm MBP List

A North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/10/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Boyer and McDowell MBP List

A North American Porcupine in Allegany Co., Maryland (2/16/2020).

View Record Details Photo by William Blauvelt MBP List

Map Snapshot

91 Records

GA AL WA FR CL MO HO BA BC HA CE PG AA CV CH SM KE QA CN TA DO WI SO WO

Status

The presence of this species is often a surprise to Maryland residents. Porcupines are rarely encountered, but regular, in western Maryland, especially Garrett and Allegany Counties. Interstate 68 is a major barrier for the species, and many are found as roadkill on that highway.

Relationships

Feeds on the inner bark of trees, especially Eastern Hemlock and Sugar Maple. Some large predators have learned to attack the species' belly and avoid porcupines' dangerous quills. These include the Fisher, Bobcat, and Coyote. In Maryland, vehicles on I-68 could also be listed as a major "predator".

Seasonality Snapshot

Resources

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Use of media featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

A North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (6/2/2013). Media by Jim Brighton.

North American Porcupines in Frostburg, Maryland (10/2/2009). Media by Mikey Lutmerding.

A North American Porcupine in Frostburg, Maryland (10/2/2009). Media by Mikey Lutmerding.

A North American Porcupine in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/11/2011). View Record Details Media by Michael Douglas.

North American Porcupine in Washington Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Frode Jacobsen.

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Josh Emm.

A North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (4/11/2008). Media by J.B. Churchill.

North American Porcupine in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Tom Feild.

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Josh Emm.

North American Porcupine in Carroll Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) bugologist2, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by bugologist2 via iNaturalist.

A North American Porcupine track found at 1000 Acre Heath, Maine (7/4/2010). Media by Jim Brighton.

North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Josh Emm.

A North American Porcupine in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/10/2014). View Record Details Media by Boyer and McDowell.

A North American Porcupine in Allegany Co., Maryland (2/16/2020). View Record Details Media by William Blauvelt.