Believe It or Not, You Can Find Porcupines in Kentucky

I can get caught up in YouTube wildlife videos like nobody's business. Seriously, it's become one of my "rabbit holes." In fact, don't be surprised if I get sucked into a mini-documentary ABOUT rabbit holes.

Here's one I saw recently that led to this story...

I love unlikely battles in the animal kingdom, and that certainly qualifies. As I was watching, I got to wondering about porcupines' habitat, and, as it turns out, they are not at all uncommon in the United States. (For the longest time, I didn't think they were indigenous to the U.S.)

What's more, it wouldn't be impossible to spot one in Kentucky. That surprised me even more.

The North American Porcupine in Kentucky

Having once believed that porcupines were exotic enough NOT to be indigenous to the United States, I was surprised to learn that, while they are not native to the Commonwealth, they have been spotted here, according to World Population Review. You're just going to have a hard time seeing them. Kentucky Living spoke with Zach Couch of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, and he said that "there have probably been fewer than five credible sightings" as of 2021. He cited West Virginia's growing porcupine population as a possible reason for the modest influx.

Your best chance to see them is at a zoo or a facility like Wendt's Wildlife Adventure in Carlisle, Kentucky.

Something I found interesting in my research is that many states allow pet ownership of porcupines. However, those who might be interested are warned against it, for obvious reasons. Just TRY cuddling with something that's covered in quills.

Where You Might Find Porcupines in Kentucky

If you're now on a mission to find one, your best bet is a heavily forested area. Plus, you'll need a flashlight; they are nocturnal. But, to be perfectly honest, you will probably be unsuccessful. Porcupines have more than 30,000 quills that can become embedded in a predator when the animal lashes its tail in self-defense. So if it hears you, it's gone.

Is it cool that we have porcupines in Kentucky? I think so. Do I hold out any hope that I will ever see one outside of an enclosure like a zoo or a preserve? Absolutely not.