Porcupines are a mostly nocturnal animal that is common in our area of Alberta, Canada.
The only vulnerable part of a porcupine is his belly, the rest of this rodent is covered with sharp, barbed quills. These quills will enter the skin, and are difficult to pull out. If they become embedded in the skin or are broken off, they will travel around inside the body and can damage organs and other tissues. Acer is shown here after such an encounter. During a routine run, he attacked a porcupine.