Download or read book Porcupines: Nature’s Prickly Rodents written by Dr. Richard A. NeSmith and published by Applied Principles of Education & Learning. This book was released on 2021-06-15 with total page 54 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Porcupines are North America's second-largest rodent, with only the beaver surpassing it. They are alive and well, but most people have never seen one in the wild. They are cute, chubby, walk with a wobble, but just not very cuddly. The reason? They have quills sharper than hypodermic needles on their body, up to 30,000. These herbivores are unique in that they are one of the few northern mammals that do not hibernate or enter torpor. Instead, they den up in prickles and then manage to live off some of the least nutrient flora in the wintertime. This book will help you understand porcupines and what they eat, how they act, and why they are so good at surviving hostile winters and hot summers.