Hello, porcupine!

[which_chick]

Snapped this picture on my driveway after work this week. Porcupines are out and about in these parts but they're not highly visible. When I do see one, I get a picture because they don't move very fast.

Comments

[crockpotcauldron]

Porcupine! Have you ever encountered a quill?

[which_chick]

I have not gotten quilled by a porcupine myself. I have had dogs get quilled. I have helped pull quills out of a dog. I have (carefully) removed quills from a roadkilled porcupine and washed them in dawn dishwashing liquid (porcupines are kind of musky-scented) for a friend's crafting project. I've never had a quill stuck in me a-purpose but I am reasonably familiar with quills in a redneck-y sort of way. If you would like some for any reason, my friend Trys works as a vet tech and regularly pulls them out of hunting dogs. I can ask her to save me a few.

[crockpotcauldron]

Aw, poor dogs! The worst my cats get into is tree frogs and once, years ago, a land crab. Also the bees. We have to keep kiddo Benadryl around for bee-eating accidents.

If you have a supply of quills, I would love a few - my favorite hairstick is allegedly a porcupine quill, and it is very nice. The only thing similar we have down here is lionfish spines, and nobody wants to play that game.

[which_chick]

Maybe your hair stick is from it's a different kind of porcupine?

Our porcupine quills are thin, easily bendable, hollow, and completely unable to support a wodge of hair in a bun or similar. They're about 2" long at the best of times and about as big around as a crewel embroidery needle. I'm not at all sure how they'd be a hair stick of any sort.

[crockpotcauldron]

Whoa, what?

Oh! I guess it was an African porcupine! I had no idea there were different types of porcupine, but I did get mine from a store full of African art. It looks a lot like bone or teeth, and is solid and heavy.

The American porcupine quills sound neat, but I have no idea what they would be good for. Definitely not hairsticks!