A newborn's quills harden after about thirty minutes. Without this favorable timetable, it's doubtful there would be any porcupines, which would be too bad since porcupines have lived in North America for three million years.
Porcupines are the second largest rodent in Alaska, after the beaver.
Since their quills are hollow and buoyant, porcupines will swim across wide streams and lakes without hesitation. Porcupines don't actually throw their quills, but quills are easily dislodged when they shake their tails. These spiny creatures are very fond of salt and will gnaw on wooden handles of tools just to taste the salty perspiration of humans. Learn more about porcupines from the Alaska Wildlife Notebook Series .