Wildlife Wonders of Alaska - Porcupine

Let me introduce you to a little ball of quills called Snickers. He is a porcupine that was originally raised as a pet and now resides at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. A staff member was feeding him one of his favorite foods during our visit: peanuts. Oh, he was a happy critter! With that kind of rugged exterior, it is hard to photograph an expression on a porcupine. But I thought it was cute when he held out his paw in anticipation for his next unshelled peanut. An appropriate thought bubble would be “gimme”!

Snickers has gotten to be a rather famous YouTube star. Here he is, showing off his playful character. 

An interesting fact about porcupines is that they make a variety of sounds, including whistles, whines, mumbles, grunts, and snuffles. It is really amusing to hear them carry on! Here is Snickers, showing you some of his vocal skills. 

That sounds a lot like the hungry diner sitting across from you at the Golden Corral restaurant, doesn’t it?!