Porcupines can be a prickly problem. Their appetite for twigs, branches and bark can wreak havoc on woody plants, particularly in the winter when there’s little else to eat. If a porcupine chews strips of bark off the entire circumference of a tree trunk, it can even kill the tree.
Meanwhile, porcupines also pose a risk to animals, thanks to up to 30,000 hardened quills. Despite the painful consequences, dogs never seem to learn to steer clear of them. Larger animals usually know better, but may nuzzle or nudge porcupines out of their way, which could leave your cow full of needles.
Your first move is to roll up the welcome mat. “In most cases, they’re being attracted by something,” says Dan Frankian, CEO of Hawkeye Bird and Animal Control in Acton, Ontario. “Figure out what that is and remove it.” In addition to woody plants and fruit trees, porcupines enjoy root vegetables like carrots and turnips. Salt licks, cooking oil and anything leather are also big draws, while old barns provide excellent shelters.
Of course, your farm may depend on rutabagas, apple trees or other things that porcupines love. That’s where fencing comes in — but keep in mind that porcupines are excellent climbers. While a snow fence around your property may help, electrically charged poultry mesh offers a more effective option. For individual trees, Frankian recommends installing a three-foot band of sturdy aluminum flashing around the base.
Porcupine tracks in snow.
If you have a firearms licence, shooting a porcupine on your property to prevent damage is legal in most Canadian jurisdictions. Just be sure to check your provincial regulations for specifics. And if camping out under your fruit trees with a .22 isn’t working, you could try tracking them. In the winter, look for the telltale, 30-cm-wide furrow that a porcupine leaves behind in the snow.
For a less lethal approach, consider live trapping. According to the Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, you’ll want a wire cage trap or wooden box trap that’s at least 30 cm high, 25 cm wide and 80 cm long. Use a salt-soaked piece of wood, salted chunks of vegetables or cooking oil as bait, and check with your local wildlife authority about release distances and conditions.
Poisoning is a strict no-no in most places. But applying thiram-based repellents like Skoot onto your plants will leave a bad taste in a porcupine’s mouth (literally) and discourage it from coming back from more. Just don’t spray plants intended for human or animal consumption, since Skoot will make them inedible.
Finally, don’t be afraid to leave it to the experts. Considering the damage porcupines can do — and the time you could waste on trying to get rid of them — calling a pest control company may well be the quickest and most cost-effective solution. “Work smart, not hard,” says Frankian. “You guys work hard enough.”
- Julie Stauffer