Where are you?

That might make a difference.

I've seen them eat the bark off limbs and tops of young Ponderosa pines in eastern Wa. St. I knew people then who shot them every time they saw em'.

Mike

In Maine. Their major source of nutrition in the winter around here is Hemlock. Unfortunately, I took an old barn down and they are living in the rubble and making their way past by blue spruce into the woods where the hemlock are.....seems like they are making a frequent pit stop at the blue spruce.

Jeff, they do much the same business here in Wisconsin. As I have an entire plantation full of varying conifers, I full-well expect troubles with the porkies down the road. There's lots of hemlock in this area, but I haven't planted any yet. However, the hybrid larch, which I have planted many thousands of, will be quite attractive to them I fear.

As to what to do about it....wish I knew.

+oM

After today.......1 down, many to go. Used a live trap baited with sliced apple and salt. Voila! Felt bad that I had to do away with the critter, but unfortunately with these guys....there's not much else you can do. They are just downright destructive on trees.

No porcupines here in western Wa. St.....that I know of. The other side of the Cascade Mountains is another story.

In lieu of porcupines we have Mountain Beavers. Aplodontia rufus.

Why not look for those Have-a Heart traps and just re-locate the porcupines instead of killing them?