Porcupine on Antelope Island

My husband used to say that I often act on impulse and then start thinking.    

That is exactly what happened when I saw a Porcupine in the low tree about two miles where I parked my car.

 

Without thinking about what might await me, I decided to walk this distance to get to this amazing animal hoping that snow would not be deep. 

As soon as I approached the Porcupine, almost nose to nose, I began to panic.  What do I know about Porcupines? Are they dangerous?  Can this cute animal attack me?  How do I let him know that I'm not going to harm him?

Fortunately, the Porcupine was smart, lazy and half asleep. It gave me the rare opportunity to spend almost an hour with him.

to be continued.

 Life goes on.

North American Porcupine is Collecting His Breakfast

When I spotted a huge ball with sharp stiff hairs in the top of Russian Olive tree I didn't know what to think.  I have never seen a Porcupine in the wild and especially in the top of a tree.  

Apparently, North American Porcupines spend much of their time in the tops of trees where they eat berries, munch on bark, sleep and sometimes build nests.  

The Porcupine impressed me as a very talented climber, he almost never lost balance. Of course, there were moments when he made my heart to beat a little faster but the Porcupine never fell down.

A very smart tactic. The Porcupine is pulling the branch with berries lower to get them into his mouth.

Another challenge was to reach high for the top branch without loosing balance. The maneuver was tricky but the Porcupine figured out that if he would stretch his front left paw he could manage the situation well.

And then the Porcupine took a rest.  He settled comfortably between two branches and stayed like this for a while. 

At that precise moment I heard how the branch on the ground snapped. I looked around and saw a coyote.  I don't know for how long this coyote was around but I am sure that the coyote's curiosity kept him for a while close.

Generally, life is good!