How do I find a porcupine?
9
resolved Sep 11
FutureOwl avatarLook up trees
50%12%
Alice avatarHike in Garnet Canyon at dusk
50%8%
RobinFoster avatarFollow your nose
4%
IsaacKing avatarGo to a location where porcupines live in the wild
4%
IsaacKing avatarCreate a market on Manifold asking people how to find porcupines
5%
IsaacKing avatarMake porcupine noises
5%
IsaacKing avatarListen for noisy chewing
5%
IsaacKing avatarGo to a nearby zoo and ask where the porcupines are
2%
DanSparkman avatarDrive on a highway with a lot of dead porcupines late at night. Try not to run them over.
14%

How do I find a porcupine?

I've asked a dozen different rangers and mountain guides for advice on how to find a porcupine. A couple rangers described porcupines as "a real nuisance" and "a menace" in Death Canyon, but I haven't had any luck meeting this menace.

As soon as I see or hear one, I'll resolve to any answer that proved useful in helping me meet a porcupine! I'll push the market close date until that happens — I've been on the lookout since December and it could take patience. In the meantime, I'll tip for any porcupine information that's new to me!

I'll only consider ethical ways to meet a porcupine in the wild, so leaving a saucer of salt outside my tent, for example, wouldn't count.

It's been a great wildlife season and I've thoroughly enjoyed recognizing my neighborhood elk and dodging my first flying squirrel. But I haven't had any luck with porcupines, so I'm extending the close date by a year.

Get Ṁ500 play money

Related questions

How many duck eggs will hatch?
Will my cat want to attack my rescued pigeon?
Reality avatarSierra
59% chance
Can I save my plant’s broken branch? (See photos)
Reality avatarSierra
72% chance
Will I see another giant house spider in my apartment by Halloween?
evergreenemily avatarevergreen
82% chance
Will DALLE-3 be able to draw a frog riding a bird? (1 out of 5 times)
firstuserhere avatarfirstuserhere
97% chance
Will I successfully go mushroom hunting this year?
Stralor avatarPat Scott🩴
53% chance
If I adopt a shy cat that hides from humans, will it become friendly within 6 months?
KaylaGamin avatarKayla Gamin
59% chance
Will there be a mouse sighting in Ra in the next week
vlad avatarVlad Sitalo
54% chance
Will I get in a car accident involving a deer in the next 10 years?
DylanSlagh avatarDylan Slagh
17% chance
Would a European woodchuck chuck all the wood(30%) if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
ThatGuy avatarThatGuy
19% chance
Will my pigeon rescue (from the street) be able to fly again?
Reality avatarSierra
90% chance
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
Why did the Chicken Cross the Road?
How long will this gourd last? (years)
Will we uplift an animal?
Gigacasting avatarGigacasting
40% chance
[the valley where the yarrow grows] Will Allegra...

🏅 Top traders

#NameTotal profit
1Ṁ67
2Ṁ53
3Ṁ17
Sort by:
Alice avatar
Alice

A couple nights ago I heard a porcupine while coming down the switchbacks after Garnet Canyon! I went back up the trail (a herculean effort after being awake and moving for 18 hours) and looked in the trees but couldn't see him despite trying sooo hard.

1 reply
DanSparkman avatar
Dan Sparkman

Where do you live? Are there porcupines there?

Look up trees
FutureOwl avatar
Future Telling Owl

@Alice They spend the hot/sunny parts of the day in trees, and forage around on the ground near dawn and dusk.

Look up trees
Alice avatar
Alice

@FutureOwl I didn't realize till recently how often porcupines fall out of trees (and risk self-quilling)! I haven't seen any porcupines in trees yet, though last week I did come across a black bear cub 50 feet up a whitebark pine, snacking on pinecones and swaying in the wind.

Isaac answered
Make porcupine noises
Alice avatar
Alice

@IsaacKing If only I were cute enough to make porcupine noises!

Robin Foster answered
Follow your nose
Alice avatar
Alice

@RobinFoster I'd heard about the odor but didn't know what it smells like! Thanks for sharing.

IsaacKing avatar
Isaac

Why would it be unethical to put out a saucer of salt?

1 reply
Isaac answered
Listen for noisy chewing
Isaac answered
Make porcupine noises
Robin Foster answered
Follow your nose
RobinFoster avatar
Robin Foster

@RobinFoster Wikipedia says they have a strong smell to deter predators.

Alice avatar
Alice

I've added answers for everything I've tried so far.