Where do people get the idea that porcupines shoot out their quills?

Question

I volunteer at a zoo and someone asked why we don't have a plastic protective sheet over the porcupine exhibit. They were afraid that the porcupine could shoot out it's quills through the fence and hurt people..... And many other people that I've talked to believe this myth. My supervisor said when she was training the new volunteers that people will often believe this myth which comes from cartoons. What cartoons, that have porcupines, show them shooting out their quills like exploding pincushions!? I really would like to know.

Yahzmin ♥♥ 4ever · Answer

Despite what others have posted, you are correct that porcupines can NOT shoot quills - even from their tails. Doesn't happen. The concept that they can comes from how quickly they LOSE the quills if somebody / something touches them. It seems that it happens even BEFORE they are touched, so they must be shot out, of course. The old cartoons didn't help any.

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/can-porcupines-shoot-their-quills

As to which specific cartoon started that concept, it is hard to say. I'm old - I remember those types of things in cartoons from my early childhood, back when cartoons were still in black and white! So it has been around for a long, long time.

daniel g · Answer

You are correct to a degree. A porcupine can throw quills from their tail, but wont likely cause harm. It is when they feel threatened and slap you with their tail, the quills are a painful problem.
Now I have fed porcupines a treat and even petted them.(dont go back to front.) I compare them to a large skunk.
Now my dog was always chasing porcupines and would invariably wind up with a snout full of quills, didn't stop him though.
Not quite an animal for a petting zoo, but harmless enough.

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Where do people get the idea that porcupines shoot out their quills?

2 Answers