In
Hatchet, Brian has an incident with a porcupine. When Brian encounters the porcupine,
it was probably the best thing that happened to Brian. If Brian hadn’t
seen the porcupine, Brian wouldn’t have learned how to start a fire as
early as he did. Brian was sleeping when the porcupine came in to his camp.
Instinctively he threw his hatchet, and when it hit the rock shelter, sparks
flew. That is how Brian discovered a way to start a fire.
Porcupines are a most peculiar animal, partly due to their defense system. Their
defense is their quills. The porcupine has quills covering about 85% of its
body. Most of the different species of porcupines are brown with their quills
being a lighter, more, tan color. The porcupine also has very thick fur. Under
its quills, its ears are hidden beneath its’ immense thick fur.
The porcupines’ main habitat is mostly in all boreal, (Taiga) forests.
As you may recall, it is located in the northern hemisphere.
The porcupines’ main predators are, bears and coyotes, but when they come
sniffing a porcupine they don’t have to be told twice to stay back. If
a predator tries attacking a porcupine, it usually bends it’s back and
tail up, and wiggles, planning to hit the unwanted attacker with it’s
tail.
Because porcupines are low to the ground, it finds the food it could eat, like,
dried old tree bark, bush leaves and berries, etc.