Porcupine

Awwwww- how cute- NOT

Do not be fooled by what you see above! This porcupine is young, and it's quills have not come in yet. And though it may look cute and incredibly soft, trust me- these animals are deadly. These menacing- yet not so menacing creatures defend themselves with camouflage. If all else fails, they unleash their hidden weapon- pointy, sharp quills.

I have had plenty of experience with porcupines. They are my dog's sworn enemy. 3 times he has come back with quills in his lips and leg- once over 200 stuck into him. It took about an hour for my Dad to pry them all out. When a porcupine feels endangered, it reacts normally like any other living creature does- defends itself with what it has.

Porcupines can be found all over the world, and can survive in most climates. They can also live in most living conditions, though they are not known to be good swimmers. They prefer woods or rock terrain to hide out in, most likely because of camouflage. (Now, my dog is a WATER DOG. Why the heck can't he just find some water to go in when he finds a porcupine?!?)

Porcupines, though the third biggest rodent, are not fast like rodents. They are known to be slow and big. This is why so many dogs are frequently porcupined. They come up and stumble over the slow moving creature and make them go on defense.