Porcupine in Sages Ravine

 I came upon this slow-moving porcupine in Sages Ravine (Mount Washington, Mass.) on the Appalachian Trail a few weeks ago (June 1). I watched it for a while until it ambled off into the bushes.

Porcupines eat green plants, twigs and the bark of trees. They especially like young twigs and inner bark of the hemlock tree. According to the National Audubon Society Field Guide to New England, one animal can have up to 30,000 quills, mostly on it's rump. No wonder it didn't seem to have much fear!