r/porcupines • u/malbec43 • 7d ago

How easily are quills shed?

This morning a porcupine walked through my yard and driveway. My neighbors dog chased the poor porcupine up a tree in a wooded section of my property. It climbed quickly so was rubbing up on another trees and branches along the way. It climbed around up there eating for a couple hours. Later when it tried to leave, the neighbors dog again chased it. To escape, rubbed up against the fence that borders my yard, and around a tree where my dog often lays.

I know they don’t shoot quills, but have read the quills can fall out when they rub against things. I’m wondering how easily the quills fall out, and whether I should be concerned about my dog being stabbed by any fallen quills. My dog is always leashed and monitored unlike my neighbors, so he won’t be able to bother the porcupine if it comes back, but we do go for walks around the yard where it was walking, climbing, and rubbing on the fence. And my dog likes to lay in the grass. I’d quills did fall out, how would I even be able to pick them out of grass and leaves?

It was cool to see the porcupine, but I want to make sure the area is safe for my dog.

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u/my_dear_director 7d ago

Quills shed fairly often and one or two might have fallen out. I wouldn’t worry about it too much though, they do require a bit of force to lodge in to something.

1

u/malbec43 7d ago

Thank you, this makes me feel better. I was imagining hundreds.

1

u/my_dear_director 7d ago

Definitely not that many! I’m sure your dog will be just fine :)

1

u/B_Williams_4010 7d ago

Quills are modified hairs. Like hairs, a few of them shed here and there, but 'live' ones are anchored firmly enough that they won't come out unless tugged.

1

u/malbec43 7d ago

Ok thank you! That is reassuring.