porcupine highway
February 20th, 2006
Feb. 19, 2006:
Yesterday, we hiked the Hemlock Ridge and Beech Woods trails at Charleston Lake. We found many Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) tracks on the snow. We hiked the same two trails last weekend (Feb. 11), and on that occasion, found a porcupine about 4 meters up a poplar tree near the trailhead. Later in that hike, we encountered what was probably the same porcupine, about 200 meters up the trail. It quickly ambled back in the direction of the trailhead. On Feb. 19th, we found the woods laced with porcupine highways such as the one in the above photo. Obviously, the porcupines are quite active. I followed one set of tracks to an opening in the cracked granite ridge.
Also seen on this trip were two Barred owls (Strix varia) along the Hemlock Grove trail [UTM 18T 0418257, 4928574 (WGS84)]. We had seen one moving about among the hemlocks on Feb. 11, but this time, we saw two at the same time, moving along through the treetops ahead of us. We’ve seen and photographed a Barred Owl in this same grove a couple of times in recent years.
Other birds seen on this trip were a Common Raven, flying overhead, calling loudly; as well as a Hairy Woodpecker in the spruce grove on the Beech Woods trail. Ruffed Grouse tracks were frequently seen along both trails, as were the tracks of deer, fox, and coyote.
Tags: Porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum, Barred owls, Strix varia
A porcupine highway! I love it!
I posted a pic of a porc up in a tree right near my place about a month ago (on Garden Geek). I think they are fascinating creatures.
Bev, did you go to college/university for something nature-related? Or does your knowledge come from personal interest and research done on your own time?
Comment by Randa — February 28, 2006 @ 8:48 pm
I shall have to have a look for your porcupine post on Garden Geek. If you have a link, please do post it.
and:
did you go to college/university for something nature-related? Or does your knowledge come from personal interest and research done on your own time?
I have an unrelated graduate degree, so most of what I know has been largely through interest, experience and research. Also, I have a number of friends who are biologists, or do biology-related work, and I’ve done volunteer survey work for graduate biology students, so I’ve picked up a lot from them. My nature photography is sometimes done with others doing field work, so that has also contributed to the learning process. However, I guess when it comes down to it, a lot of what I’ve learned (so far) is just from time spent observing nature, especially in the case of invertebrates. Still plenty to learn though — which is one of the nicest things about nature — always lots to learn and many surprises. –bev
Comment by bev — February 28, 2006 @ 9:28 pm
Thanks for your response, Bev. That’s wonderful that you have learned so much through friends and associates, and by your own observation. Nature is endlessly fascinating.
Here is the link for the porc photo. The photo is taken so that you see the entire tree; the porcupine looks quite small. But I wanted to show the effect of how unwieldy the animal looked on that skinny branch. http://gardengeek.blogspot.com/2006/01/pixie-penthouse-i-just-made-baking.html#comments
Comment by Randa — March 1, 2006 @ 3:06 pm