An Okanagan woman saw an unexpected 鈥榩oint鈥� of interest along a hike yesterday.
While hiking in the Wilden neighbourhood, Karen Beeby was surprised when she saw the spiky silhouette of a porcupine in a treetop.
鈥淲ho knew porcupines were tree climbers?鈥� she posted on Instagram on May 9.
Beeby, who was hiking with a friend and their three dogs, told the Capital News that one of the dogs had been quilled by a porcupine a few weeks prior.
She said the three dogs sat at the bottom of the tree, sniffing and barking at the porcupine, and 鈥渢hat鈥檚 when [they] saw all of the quills standing on end.鈥�
鈥淚t was eating a lot of foliage and hanging on to the branch with one arm,鈥� Beeby said.
When they circled back after their hike, she added, the porcupine had moved even higher up in the tree.
READ MORE: Porcupine taking a stroll in the Yukon turns heads
According to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development website, porcupines have fleshy soles and five toes on their hind feet, and are well developed for climbing.
In fact, the report said, young porcupines are 鈥減recocious and can climb trees within a few hours of birth.鈥�
The porcupines climb trees to eat the buds and leaves.
karissa.gall@blackpress.ca
Like us on and follow us on
