Baby Porcupine Born At Brookfield Zoo

BROOKFIELD, IL — The Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo, has announced the birth of a porcupette—a baby porcupine—born on July 2. The zoo said the porcupette is the first of its species, the prehensile-tailed porcupine, to be born at Brookfield Zoo.

According to the zoo, after monitoring the mother, 5-year-old Lucia, for an extended period of time, it became clear that she was not going to provide her offspring proper maternal care, as she was not allowing him to nurse. At that time, animal care and veterinary staff made the decision to intervene and hand-rear the baby, who is thriving.

Following a gestation of about 203 days, a porcupette, weighing just under a pound, is born with soft quills that protect the mom during the birthing process. After a few days, the quills harden with keratin, which gives them their sharpness. Baby porcupines are relatively mature and mobile immediately following birth, the zoo said.

Both Lucia and the porcupette’s dad, 4-year-old Eddie, are members of Brookfield Zoo’s Animal Ambassador Program and can be seen in Hamill Family Play Zoo. The zoo said once the young porcupine is weaned from the bottle, he will also be a part of this program, which offers guests the opportunity to have up-close experiences with many of the animals.

Prehensile-tailed porcupines are native to South America and live in high-elevation rain forests. Their long tail is used to wrap around branches while climbing. The zoo said porcupines do not shoot their quills, which are just modified hairs made out of the same substance found in human hair and fingernails. Porcupines have muscles at the base of each quill that allow the quills to stand up when the animal is excited or alarmed. Like all hairs, quills do shed, and when the porcupines shake, loose quills come out. The ends of prehensile-tailed porcupines’ quills have a small barb (like a fish hook) that snags the flesh, keeping the quill stuck.

Photos by Jim Schulz/Chicago Zoological Society.