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PHOTO: Is That A Porcupine In A Tree?

Ann Hough, National Elk Refuge volunteer
/
USFWS

Why yes, porcupines can climb trees. Why do you ask?

This beauty of a photo came to our attention thanks the Flickr feed of the Mountain-Prairie Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service. Our prickly friend here is hanging around at the National Elk Refuge in Jackson, Wyoming.

I had no idea that porcupines could climb trees. A quick survey of a few folks either answered 'no' or very shaky 'yes?' Sure enough though, they can. Just to be sure, here's a baby porcupine climbing a tree in Maine:

http://youtu.be/IF5-UzHsLrs

While this is adorable, now I'm less concerned about stepping on a porcupine as I am now leery of the possibility that they can fall from the sky.

I’m not a Colorado native (did you know that "I'm from Missouri" means "I'm skeptical of the matter and not easily convinced?") but I have lived here for most of my life and couldn't imagine leaving. After graduating from Colorado State University, I did what everyone wants to do; I moved to the mountains and skied, hiked, and hid from responsibility! Our listeners in the mountains may know me from my time in Steamboat Springs and Vail or as the voice of the Battle Mountain Huskies Hockey team in Vail.
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