Nordamerikanischer Baumstachler

North American porcupines are mainly active at night. They climb trees, where they search for food and rest. When climbing, they use their tails to brace themselves, providing good support. In open habitats, they spend most of their time on the ground. They move slowly, but are good swimmers.

In spring, North American porcupines feed mainly on leaves, herbs and young shoots. In autumn, nuts and berries provide them with plenty of energy and help them build up fat reserves for winter. In winter, their food becomes less nutritious. Needles and bark then make up much of their diet. Microorganisms in the caecum help them digest this fibrous diet.