Porcupine Control: How To Get Rid of Porcupines

This page is a general Porcupine control guide. Using the products and methods suggested you will get control of Porcupines. Follow this guide and use the recommended products and we guarantee 100% control of Porcupines. Consult your local and state guidelines to see if Porcupines are a protected species in your location before applying control and proceed with caution when applying control as Porcupines can be dangerous.

Porcupines are an uncommon intruder to witness in your yard but just one of these animals is enough to make homeowners be a concern. Porcupines are usually content residing in the woods, but if they start to wander out and venture where humans dwell, it usually is because of some type of factor in the woods that is pushing them out. This could usually be either a drought, food shortage or other conditions which put porcupines in a compromising position.

Porcupines are the third-largest member of the rodent family. These mammals typically live in other parts of the world in Asia, Europe and in Africa. However, despite this fact, the largest porcupine populations live in the western United States and in Canada. They can be found in forests, grasslands or meadows and on occasion, dry desert areas. Porcupines are a resilient and adaptable animal which can tolerate a variety of climates due to their exceptional defense mechanisms and their versatile eating habits

Porcupines that trespass into residential or commercial areas are known to create a lot of trouble and inflict significant property damage. Most notably, Porcupines like to destroy trees by eating bark and branches. Any gardens or vegetation are at risk of being destroyed as well. Since homes are made of wood, these can also be susceptible to wood damage. Their appearance can also attract predators like mountain lions and bears.

If you have encountered a porcupine on your property, this DIY guide can help. Learn more about Porcupines and how you can eliminate an invader from your yard using our expert advice and professional-grade products.

Identification

Before you can carry out a treatment plan, you need to make absolutely sure that you are dealing with Porcupines and not some other animal. Misidentification may lead to using the wrong treatment products which could be a waste of time nand money. Here are some identifying traits so you know what Porcupines look like for proper identification:

• Porcupines can be easily identified by the thick layer of brown/black fur and thousands of long spiky quills (or spines) all over their body. 
• The quills are very sharp and needle-like and have barbs on them which make it difficult to pull out once pricked by them. If that wasn’t enough, the quills have an oily substance on them that can cause burning and itching as well as disease. It’s safe to say that it would be wise not to touch them.
• Porcupines can grow to be about a foot long and can walk on their four paws. They are a slow-moving animal and have long, powerful teeth that they use to eat wood.

Use the image and description above to properly identify a Porcupine on your property. If you are not sure, contact us and we will try to assist with identification.

Inspection

Once you have identified the animal you are encountering to be a Porcupine you should then conduct an inspection. You will need to survey the area to see where they are active and what may be attracting them to the area.

Where To Inspect

Search in your yard, near your beneficial trees, gardens, crops, fields, and in your lawn. Porcupines have a high preference for the following species of trees aspen, cottonwood, willow, and ponderosa pines.

What To Look For

You’re looking for Porcupine activity. This means looking for twigs that have been eaten, their tracks (especially during the winter when they are active), and barkless trees that have been stripped by their gnawing. Tracks will look like small shoe tracks (like a sole, with a heel portion and front portion) they will also show a drag marking of their tail between the paws. Once you have confirmed Porcupine activity, this is where you will apply treatment.

Treatment

Once you have confirmed Porcupine activity, it is time to begin treatment. Remember to read all product labels and follow the application instructions on these labels. And stay safe, by wearing personal protective equipment.

Since harming a Porcupine is discouraged, controlling an invading Porcupine will involve either live trapping with Solutions Humane Live Trap or deterring the rodent from your property with a repellent such as Critter Ridder. We recommend the Solutions Live Trap as the best form of control, since Critter Ridder results may vary so it is not a guarantee this will keep Porcupines away.

Step 1 - Set up the Solutions Humane Live Animal Trap

The Solutions Humane Live Animal Trap is easy to use and place. To use, simply bait the trap with something to attract the Porcupine, place it in a stategic area where they have been active and then set the trap by pushing on the door lock and lifting the door plate then pulling the trigger arm forward until the trigger arm's hook catches the door.

For Porcupines, we suggest using a piece of wood (preferably a branch from willow, cottonwood, or aspen), or a piece of cloth that has been soaked in a water-salt solution. Using both these baits will bring better results. Place the trap where damage has occurred or if you have identified it, at their den entrances. Wait for some time and monitor the trap for the next few days. 

If the Porcupine becomes caught, relocate the animal at least 25 miles away from your property or call animal control.

Step 2 - Apply Critter Ridder

Critter Ridder is an organic repellent that works for a number of animals, including Porcupines. Each 1.25 lbs will protect approximately 50 sq. ft. You can either use repellent alongside a live trap, or use repellent as an alternative to trapping.

Using gloves, lightly sprinkle granules directly from the container or using a spreader at a rate of 1 lb. per 40 sq. ft. It can be applied to lawns, garden paths, and flowerbeds. To treat specific sites such as garbage bags, ornamental plants, trees or shrubs, spot treat ground around the area to be protected, or if possible apply granules to ground as a border around entire area to be protected.

Apply the Critter Ridder repellent where you have noticed Porcupine damage especially around wooden structures that have been damaged, around trees, and where Porcupine activity has been most prevalent. Make sure to apply 2 times per week for 2 weeks.

Prevention

Once the Porcupine threat has been neutralized, you will want to make sure an invasion doesn't happen again. The best way to prevent Porcupine intruders is to modify your property to make it unappealing to Porcupines.

• Start by building a fence around trees, gardens, and where damage has been most prevalent. Porcupines might be able to climb fences but a wire strip at top of the fence installed at a 65-degree angle will make it harder for them to climb over.
• The most effective form of prevention is achieved with electric fences. Electric fences should be placed a 1 ½ inch above 18-inch fine mesh wiring fence. Trees can be protected by wrapping around trunks 30-inch high wire fences that will reduce their feeding damage.

Key Takeaways

What are Porcupines?

• Porcupines are a large rodent that can be dangerous to encounter due to their painful and often disease-causing quills on their body. 

How to Get Rid of Porcupines

• To control Porcupine invaders, we recommend using a combination of the Solutions Humane Live Trap and Nature's Defense repellent.

Preventing Porcupine Reinvasion

• To prevent Porcupine invasions, habitat modifications will need to be done, like building fences, or installing electrical fences.