Learn more about porcupines, quills, and dogs and what you need to do if your dog is "quilled" by a porcupine. Although porcupines can’t shoot their quills like arrows, the slightest touch can lodge dozens of quills in the predator’s body. Porcupines will shed quills and new ones grow to replace those that are lost. Porcupines on the other hand have quills which can pierce your skin if you mess with them, but they do not 'shoot' them out. Rural America is the preferred home of porcupines, especially where hemlock trees are in abundance. Quills. No, they cannot shoot their spines at you. Porcupines can’t shoot their quills, but… When porcupines are threatened, they lash their tails back and forth. Porcupine quills are commonly found embedded in the muzzle, face, head, and neck of dogs, but can be found anywhere. Email is required and look like an e-mail address. Porcupines can not shoot their quills or even throw them at will. Hedgehogs stick them up so you wont pick them up, that wont do much harm. The first evidence that porcupines can and do throw quills came to me with the dawnlight of a winter morning in the Ontario wilderness. The answer is, No; this is an absolute fallacy, probably originating because predators are sometimes found dead or alive with quills sticking out of various part of the body, or quills are found lying on the ground. Remember though that porcupines will gnaw on any type of wood, factory processed or natural. Although it is commonly believed that when a porcupine feels under threat, they will fire their quills, puncturing the approaching animal, it … 1 thought on “ The Truth About Porcupine Projectiles ” Del Cross November 21, 2019 at 1:25 am. Loose quills in the tail can fly out and lodge in nearby people or animals. Contrary to popular belief, porcupines can't shoot their quills. No they can't shoot their quills like the superhero Quill However, Porcupines have some features which made their quills so effective that earned them the notorious rep of "Quill shooting". Ha ha, just kidding, they can't shoot their quills. The evidence that porcupines shed its quills can be found in places where porcupines gather. Some years ago I passed close to a hidden porcupine. They move slowly, but they are excellent climbers. During the period of the new quill coming up, any sudden flip of the porcupine’s tail would cause some of the quills flying around and this is proof that porcupines actually shoot their quills. Most unexpectedly it came, with a great surprise, while I was trailing a pack of timber wolves from their fresh kill to their daybed. But they can destroy trees and landscaping. You are ineligible for a CWP if the misdemeanor conviction was for a violation of Mont. The North American porcupine has about 30,000 quills. 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