Porcupines do not hibernate. They will either build a nest or find a hollow log, an abandoned burrow, or a stump to protect them from severe weather. And, even though porcupines are mostly solitary, it is common to find several porcupines denning together to stay warm in winter.

Porcupines in Winter

Porcupines are predominantly nocturnal, but during winter when food is more scarce, they will forage both day and night, insulated by their quills and dense guard hairs. During winter, its foraging territory changes, and porcupines stay much closer to their dens than in spring and summer when they can more easily travel for longer distances. Their foraging territory can shrink up to as much as 80-90 percent in winter as they need to save energy, so they retain stored fat through these leaner months. In winter when leaves are scarcer, porcupines will eat the bark of trees, waiting eagerly for spring when they can replenish their fat with new spring growth.

Porcupines live for roughly 10 to 12 years, during which they will use the same den each winter. They place their droppings right at the entrance of their den to deter other animals from moving in
 

When Porcupines Become a Problem

Porcupines venture into residential areas for a surprising reason—they crave salt that they cannot get from their diet of leaves and bark, and there is plenty of it near humans. Some of their favorite sources of salt include car tires that have driven through salted streets, tool handles and boat oars found in sheds, horse saddles, and plywood that is glued with a sodium-based material.

Porcupines are an uncommon home intruder. If one is a regular in your yard, it is likely because of unusual circumstances such as a drought or food shortage. But, even outside your home, they can cause considerable alarm:

  • They can destroy your trees by stripping them of too much bark.
  • They will help themselves to your vegetable garden.
  • They can damage porches, sheds, car tires, and the wooden handles of tools with traces of human sweat in their search for salt.
  • They pose a health risk to pets, who can fall victim to the porcupine’s quills.
  • Its presence can attract porcupine predators such as fishers.

Ridding Your Property of a Porcupine

Porcupines make strange noises. If you hear strange animal noises, notice that one or more trees are being stripped of their bark, or see small branches and feces around the base of a tree, you might have a porcupine living in your yard. Do not attempt to rid your home of a porcupine on your own.

Porcupine quills are barbed. They are not only painful, but they will also slowly work their way further into a person’s or pet’s skin unless they are removed in a timely way. Critter Control is a full-service wildlife specialist company protecting people, property, and wildlife. We know how to get rid of porcupines in a humane manner and can help you create a landscape that is no longer attractive to these creatures.

indicates required field.

Get them out.
Keep them out.®

Experience wildlife or pest issue? We can help! Complete this form and your local Critter Control® office will contact you to assist.

 

Best Bat Removal

Anett B.
5/8/2023
Brandon was out to please and make out lives easier with out bat situation. Above and beyond of the call of duty and got the job done. Thank you!
Celia G
3/9/2023
Bat removal. Very knowledgeable and dedicated.
Emily G.
9/1/2022
BAT POOP CLEAN-UP AND PREVENTION! Bat guano removed from gables. No bats found in attic, so put new screens on all gable vents, as one screen was close to breaking and then bats may have gotten in! Great work in Tulsa!
Jerry M.
10/14/2021
Squirrels and chipmunks were in our attic. So we called Critter Control to do an inspection. Their representative climbed all over our very steep roof and found several places where squirrels had entered our attic.

Upon inspection of the attic, evidence of bats was also found. The Critter Control team came on time to completely caulk the entire perimeter of the house and create an exit strategy for the squirrels and bats.

Because bat droppings can cause histoplasmosis, this also required total removal and replacement of our attic insulation and sanitizing the space. Not a small job in a 1,300 sq. ft. attic! While Critter Control’s cost was high, our homeowners insurance covered most of it. Everyone representing Critter Control was professional, courteous and timely. I would highly recommend them to anyone who thinks they might have unwelcome guests living in their attic
Vincent S.
10/30/2020
On recommendations from a nearby pest control company, I called Critter Control for suspicious bat droppings.

Madison came out the same day to do an inspection. She was knowledgeable, thorough, and highly professional. She examined the ‘matter’ that had been scattered on my threshold and thought it was foliage. But she then asked to go up to my attic space where the bats could be roosting. She had to walk up 3 flights of stairs with a heavy ladder. She again spent some time searching all the nooks and crannies and found nothing.

She seemed so interested in her craft, it was truly inspiring to see! She reassured me and is writing up a prevention strategy for my appraisal. She charged me NOTHING!! I am so impressed. We need more Madisons in this world!

Service: Bat Removal
Sonia-Maria R.
9/3/2020
We noticed droppings on our brand new deck - we were given their number from our contractor. They came the next day. Brian looked at it and said - yeah, bats!! He then checked every area in our attic and he explained exactly what needed to be done.

He found evidence of a mice infestation, provided a referral and they are helping us as well. Great service, very informative, very professional! We are very satisfied and would recommend them to anyone who has any issues with any critters!

Quicklinks

Contact Form