Porcupines belong to two separate families of the Hystricomorph suborder of rodents. One family, the Erethizontidae, lives in the New World – North and South America. There are five genera of Erethizontidae. The other family, the Hystricidae, lives in the Old World – Eurasia and Africa.
Scientific name for North American porcupine: Erethizon dorsatum. The North American porcupine occurs from Alaska and Canada southward to northern Mexico. In the United States, the animals are present in all forested regions except the Southeast.
The porcupine is adapted to a variety of habitats. It is largely an inhabitant of forested areas in the West and prefers rocky areas. They are expert at climbing trees, although their movements are slow, methodical and seemingly awkward.
Although the bulk of their species range coincides with coniferous forest, porcupines inhabit a variety of other habitats including mixed forests.
Habitat use generally refers seasonal and vegetation changes, and also may be educated by activities including foraging predator avoidance and resting or sleeping.
North American Porcupine
