Baby Porcupines are called Porcupettes, but it’s not clear from the literature when a Porcupette officially grows into a Porcupine and can vote about territories. What is clear is that this is a young Porcupine
He appeared near our door Wednesday (September 16) at dusk, apparently beginning his nightly jaunt. (Sex assumed for discussion.) He’s most likely an only child, since Porcupines usually have only a single offspring.
As do their parents, young Porcupines travel on the ground by pigeon-toed lumbering, which means that they’re easy to catchup to, but you have to be careful to avoid getting into tail-swatting range. (Unfortunately, many dogs are not aware of that danger until it’s too late and, even after the painful quills have been removed, many dogs still can’t resist chasing Porcupines.)
Young Porcupines are cute, but they and their older kind are despised by many people for the damage that they do to trees, structures, and objects, not to mention to dogs. In Maine, their abundance and insufficient (if any) benefit have resulted in them being listed among the few animals that hunters may kill any season and without limit. (Brooklin, Maine)