The porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) is most commonly found in the forested areas of the Prairie Provinces. lt may also be found in more southern areas of treed river banks or poplar bluffs. It is heavy-bodied, short-legged and slow moving. lts back and tail are protected by up to 30,000 sharp, barbed quills. A porcupine is active all year. lt feeds and moves about at night, resting in trees during the day. Trails from den to trees and numerous clipped twigs allow easy tracking. A porcupine has a small home range. lt prefers caves and windfalls for shelter. Predators include coyotes, black bears, fishers, martins and owls. This animal breeds in the fall. After a 7-month gestation period there is one offspring. The young animal stays with its mother through the summer.
Problems Due to Porcupine
During late fall and through the winter, porcupines eat the bark from large branches and main trunks of conifers and fruit trees. One animal may girdle up to 40 trees in a winter. This girdling can kill or seriously deform a tree. Porcupines browse on conifer needles and twigs. Conifer seedlings may be totally consumed. Porcupines may also damage sweet corn, alfalfa and grain. Porcupines are controlled by trapping or shooting. There are no rodenticides registered for porcupine control. Porcupines can be trapped using live-traps. A trap can be set at a den entrance or near the site of damage. The traps should be large, approximately 80 cm x 25 cm x 30 cm and baited with saltsoaked cloth or wood. To prevent a porcupine from feeding in a specific tree a metal cone-shaped collar can be fastened around the trunk. Small tree plantings can be fenced or individual small trees can be enclosed in a wire basket. For safe, effective and responsible porcupine removal, contact your pest control service technician at Pestica Green Pest Control Calgary for free consultation and right advice.
Technician will start by checking the den entrance near the site of damage.
Technician may set up or place a trap with preferred bait at den entrance
Extreme caution and safety is exercised when implementing control measures including strategically placing trap in areas that are as inaccessible (to people & pets) as possible
Within 7 days, when porcupine is trapped, technician will relocate it 25 km from your home, and uncover the door end of the trap, open the door, and back quickly away until the porcupine leaves the trap
Trapping will be done after ensuring that there is no baby porcupine inside
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pocupine Removal in Calgary
Where are porcupines mostly found? The porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) are most commonly found in the forested areas of the Prairie Provinces. lt may also be found in more southern areas of treed river banks or poplar bluffs.
What do porcupines eat? During late fall and through the winter, porcupines eat the bark from large branches and main trunks of conifers and fruit trees. One animal may girdle up to 40 trees in a winter. This girdling can kill or seriously deform a tree. Porcupines browse on conifer needles and twigs. Conifer seedlings may be totally consumed. Porcupines may also damage sweet corn, alfalfa and grain.
How can we control porcupines? There are no rodenticides registered for porcupine control. Porcupines can be trapped using live-traps. A trap can be set at a den entrance or near the site of damage. The traps should be large, approximately 80 cm x 25 cm x 30 cm and baited with saltsoaked cloth or wood. To prevent a porcupine from feeding in a specific tree a metal cone-shaped collar can be fastened around the trunk. Small tree plantings can be fenced or individual small trees can be enclosed in a wire basket.
When are porcupines active? They are active all year. lt feeds and moves about at night, resting in trees during the day.
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