In the winter it eats bark from birch, maple, pine, beech, oak, cherry, willow, and fir trees. The porcupine especially likes bark that has been touched by human hands. Porcupines are most active during the night. In the winter they spend most of their time in evergreen trees. In the summer they wander for food.
Porcupines live in the wooded areas from Alaska to the northern part of Mexico.
Their dens are located in a variety of places like old buildings, logs, caves, and in trees. Their homes are lined with soft materials. They are lined with dropping or scats from the porcupine. The dens may be sued for long periods of time. The main enemy of the porcupine is the fisher.