North American Porcupines
In the eastern United States, they can be found in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and New England. Habitat: Porcupines prefer forests with both hardwood and softwood trees, though they may be found in desert chaparral in northern Mexico. Diet: Porcupines are herbivorous.
Are porcupines in West Tennessee?
Porcupines occur naturally in the western and northern United States, from Alaska to Pennsylvania and far into Canada. They have not appeared in any of the southern states, except for mountains in Virginia, but you are correct that armadillos and coyotes are relatively recent migrants to many areas of the Southeast.
Do badgers live in Tennessee?
Tennessee’s state and national parks are great places to see wild mammals, insects, and reptiles in Tennessee. Over 84 areas have been set aside in the state as natural areas, and they can be great places to see wildlife, including black bears, badgers, cougars, deer, and bobcats.
Are there weasels in Tennessee?
Long-tailed, Weasel Mustela frenata
This weasel, which is found across Tennessee, has the largest distribution of any mustelid in North America. Description: A small mammal with a long, slender body, short legs, flattened head, and a long neck.
Are porcupines aggressive?
The porcupine is not an aggressive animal and will only attack if it is threatened. Once threatened, porcupines will chatter their teeth and produce a chemical odor to warn off predators. If the threat continues, the porcupine will turn its back, raise its quills and lash with its tail.
What eats a porcupine?
Even with all their defenses, porcupines are preyed upon by a several predators. The list includes lynx, bobcats, coyotes, wolves, wolverines, and great horned owls. Important predators include mountain lions and fishers. Mountain lions and fishers have different stratgies for attacking porcupines.
Is there Wolverines in Tennessee?
Officially, no, there are no wolves in Tennessee.
Wolves were native to the Smoky Mountains many years ago but no longer make it their home.
Does Tennessee have grizzly bears?
Only one bear species, black bears (Ursus americanus) live in the Volunteer State. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency website refers to them as “state treasures.” Tennessee boasts several bear sanctuaries, consisting of a combination of public and private lands.
Are there wolves in Tennessee?
There are currently no wolves in Tennessee. In fact, most historic range maps show that gray wolves never lived in Tennessee; only smaller red wolves once lived here.
Are there mountain lions in TN?
There haven’t been any cougars in Tennessee since the early 1900s. Similar to Tennessee’s wild elk and buffalo, the cougar was extirpated from the state around the early 1900s due to overhunting and habitat loss.
Are there black panthers in Tennessee?
Today the panther is extinct in Tennessee, save possibly a half dozen individuals in the Great Smokies.” For many years the Eastern Cougar, the subspecies to which the population in Tennessee belonged, has been thought to have gone the way of the Passenger Pigeon.
What kind of wild cats are in Tennessee?
Bobcats are the only feline species that are established in Tennessee. They are quite common, though they are very secretive and rarely seen.
Are there moose in Tennessee?
“Since Tennessee doesn’t have moose, it was a unique opportunity to create one.”
Are Fisher Cats in TN?
Fishers originally occurred in northeastern Tennessee more than 200 years ago, but were extirpated by intensive trapping and logging. These carnivores, which are members of the musk-scented weasel family, were re-introduced into Cumberland County in 2002.
Are there wild hedgehogs in Tennessee?
There are seventeen species of hedgehog in five genera found throughout parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand by introduction. There are no hedgehogs native to Australia and no living species native to the Americas.
Has a porcupine ever killed a human?
Porcupines rarely attack humans unless they are disturbed. What is this? These animals are afraid of humans and perceive them the same way they would with predators. Porcupines will not bite you or your pets.
What to do if you see a porcupine?
Just steer clear. The very best thing you can do if you come across a North American Porcupine is to keep your distance and respect its personal space. The rumor that porcupines can shoot or throw their quills at aggressors is only a legend, but there’s no need to test that out for yourself.
What happens if you touch a porcupine?
Porcupine quills can puncture the skin and move through muscle, ultimately penetrating into body cavities and internal organs. Because the quills carry bacteria with them, once they penetrate the skin they can serve as a source of infection and abscesses.
What is the lifespan of a porcupine?
Life Span. In the Wild: 5-7 years; In Human Care: up to 18 years.
What are porcupines favorite food?
In the spring and summer, porcupines shift to eating berries, seeds, grasses, leaves, roots and stems. At the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, the porcupines eat herbivore pellets and a variety of fruits, vegetables and greens. Their favorite food item is corn on the cob.
How fast can a porcupine run?
Many porcupines may run when they see humans because they are fearful about what a human may do to them. Porcupines have been clocked at a top speed of six miles per hour.
Are there piranhas in Tennessee?
There are no piranhas in Tennessee’s lakes or monkeys in Tennessee’s forests – yet, but you never know what the future might bring. Here are five animals that, improbably enough, have found their way into Tennessee in recent years.
Are there grizzly bears in the Smoky Mountains?
The Great Smoky Mountains — also known as the Smokies or the Smoky Mountains — are located on both sides of the Tennessee-North Carolina border. Almost all of the range is contained within and protected by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Only one species of bear is found in the Smokies: the black bear.
Are there alligators in Tennessee lakes?
(WMC) – Wildlife experts say alligators are naturally expanding their territory into Tennessee from the southern border. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency confirms an alligator sighting at the Wolf River WMA in Fayette County.
Where do most porcupines live?
North American porcupines are native to the coniferous and mixed-forest habitats of Canada, the northeastern and western regions of the United States and northern Mexico. Besides forests, porcupines can also be found in grasslands, desert shrub communities and even tundra.
