h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The newest arrival over here: an actual porcupine! I've seen the diggings over the past few days, and this morning my gardener called me to show me what he'd found. More diggings and the vital clue to the culprit - a handful of porcupine quills just inside the security gate! Now make no mistake, this is serious stuff. The South African Porcupine is not a small cuddly crittur like a hedgehog. It's big and beastly, reaching 30 kg/66 lbs in weight, with very long quills that make it dangerous even to lions! At any rate my gardener and I searched up and down the garden but couldn't find any hiding holes so hopefully it's out of my garden; we've plugged up the holes it used to get in, but I don't think it will be deterred. But there's not really anything in my garden to eat (it would have loved a vegetable garden with some carrots, turnips, etc.) so I don't know if it will be back, but will look around!

I am trying to grow a wildlife garden here, but I think a porcupine will be a bit too much for it! I hope it finds a place that can meet its needs without bringing it in conflict with people. There's still a lot of wild land around here.

That sounds like a serious-sized porcupine, Willem.

I've never seen one around here, I think they are scarce. They, like skunks, are somewhat unwelcome. Do yours throw their quills like they do here?

I agree, not cuddly like a hedgie. Avoid, avoid.

You really wouldn't want that gnawing on your flowers. Do not want, high thee to a veggie garden,critter.

Exciting in a way but you wouldn't want to encounter it face to face. Thankfullly the only critters we fear are rats and with care we don't get many of those thank goodness.

Our hedgehog numbers have dwindled massively, and some blame it on badgers who are the only creatures that can get through the spines, but I think it is more likely that habitat changes are to blame. So many hedges have been ripped out between gardens they have no shelter or food or the freedom to roam between gardens as they once did

Websailor

Hi folks! It hasn't returned. You know I'd be willing to sacrifice a plant or two for the opportunity to take a photo of it!

Sorry to hear about the hedgehogs Websailor! We have our own kind here as well but I haven't seen one in a long time.

I thought you would, I almost asked for one but knew it would be a tall order. Wild animals have a habit of disappearing when a camera is about.

I used to fall over hedgehogs in my garden in the evenings, and my husband almost stepped on one when going to lock the side gate - the silly wotsit went out in a hurry, in his socks

I really hope my badgers are not responsible for the decline, they are too well fed, but you never know. I still maintain it is largely a lack of habitat.

Websailor