Have you seen a porcupine lately? If you live in central Texas, the chances are you’ve noticed one in a tree or on the road. If you haven’t seen one yet, keep your eyes out, because they’re expanding into new territory.
In the past few years, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has been contacted by numerous people reporting porcupines in central Texas. Porcupines are known to occur primarily in northern and western Texas, but not so much in the central portion of the state. The map below shows the generally accepted distribution of porcupines in Texas.
While receiving all these porcupine reports was interesting, they were also anecdotal and difficult to interpret. However, now a new tool called iNaturalist has enabled members of the public to record and share wildlife observations. iNaturalist uses photos, GPS locations, and community identifications to improve the reliability of the data and it is quickly becoming a powerful tool for biologists and researchers to learn about wildlife from the public.
Currently, iNaturalist has 73 porcupine reports for Texas since 2012. The map of these observations supports the reports we received from the public. While we shouldn’t confuse an abundance of observations with the abundance of porcupines (the number of observations is also influenced by the number of people making observations), these data clearly demonstrate a shift in our understanding of the distribution of porcupines in Texas.
It’s exciting to see how much we can learn in a few short years when people combine their efforts and share their knowledge. Check out the Mammals of Texas iNaturalist Project to start learning about other mammals in the state.
So keep your eyes peeled for porcupines! They are fascinating animals and if you live in Austin or San Antonio, they may be headed your way.
texasnongameprogram.wordpress.com 
I’m a professional mammalogist (Ph.D Kansas ’75) and was a prof at Trinity University from 75-91. In the late 80’s I was driving west to Alpine fairly often and was astounded at how many porcupines I was seeing as road-kills. They were most numerous from the western section of the Hill Country all the way west to Alpine. It was nothing to see 10 or so dead animals on the road. Someone was working on porcupines for a thesis back then at one of the parks in the western section of the hill country but I cannot recall out of what school. She was trying to radio track them, had 10 or so tagged but kept loosing them to a mountain lion. Between 99 and 2004 I was head of the non-game program for Tx parks and wildlife and we had lots of reports of porcupines as far east as Bastrop and I had a skull from a roadkill south of Dallas. The best way to find out if porcupines are in an area is to contact local vets because dogs are always the first to find them.
Paul Robertson, Salida Colorado –
My father caught a porcupine in Coryell County just north of Gatesville in a trap. This was the first we have ever seen in the area except for one that had been run over on HW 116 south of Gatesville. I’m not sure who i can report it to, but would like it to to be noted that they are in this area now.
Yes my 3 dogs were quilled Wednesday evening in my backyard here in Lakeway. One almost 700 quills in him.
I found a dead porcupine in far west Harris County. It had been hit by a car. I gathered it up and turned it in to be sent to Texas A&M. This was in October 2015. I thought it a fluke until an employee and amatuer naturalist recently called to tell me he had recently seen (Nov 2015) a dead adult porcupine on Hwy 290 just E of Hempstead in Waller County (the county that borders Harris to the West. Im starting to think they are moving East faster than expected.
Hello, For the purpose of updating your map: This winter my wife and I sighted porcupine crossing road on hwy 377 one mile south of the Denton Rd. (which is just north of Sandusky Texas). We saw the porcupine in Grayson County which appears to be the first sighting so far in that county. Reported to Feds at Hagerman NWR at that time. Tried several times to report to TPWD but no one seemed to know who to report sighting to. Never saw one before but sure of what we saw. I saw it in the ditch and couldn’t believe my eyes. I turned around and it waddled across the road 10 feet in front of our car. If you need any more info. I will furnish. If you know who and how to report sighting to at TPWD please do. Thanks, Larry Turner
I had a dog that got hit by a porcupine in central Bell County around 2003. Had about 20-30 quills in the lips and mouth area. I just assumed they were just shy and I never saw them. I didn’t know that we were at the edge of their range.
I have property in Tyler County in East Texas and two days ago I was out in the woods with my great dane when she yelped very loudly and I found about 100 needle type things stuck in her sweater. She looks like a deer so I put a pink sweater on her during hunting season. I don’t know if they could be from a porcupine but I have never seen anything like it. She was sniffing around in the woods one minute and whimpering the next. She stayed very close to me after that.
I saw one on STEPP Road just off hwy 6 in Quanah Tx on Jan.31.
Rather large. Even able to snap a picture.
You are my inspiration, I have few web logs and infrequently run out from brand :). “To die for a religion is easier than to live it absolutely.” by Jorge Luis Borges.
Saw a porcupine in St. HEDWIG Tx.
The morning of 03/30/2017 in moms front yard
What a treat
I live in far northwestern Travis County (outside the Leander city limits) and over the years have had multiple dogs shot (some more than once) by porcupines. Doctor Frank Stiles is the vet who removed the quills last time, as they were very small (maybe a young porcupine?) – others we removed ourselves. So I believe they have been in this area for perhaps decades.
I saw one in the parking lot at my work in New Braunfels last night..
I had no idea what it was until I saw the quills raise up!!
I live CR 400 in Jones Creek located in Southern Brazoria County. The Brazos River is in our backyard and we are 7 miles from the Gulf. Last month one was ran over in front of the house. We thought last year’s flood brought them down this far.
I saw a dead porcupine on the east side outskirts of San Diego, Tx about 5 years ago. I did a upturn and went back to verify.
Guess I will just book mark this blog. Interesting article. In my view, if all webmasters and bloggers made just right content material as you did, the web might be a lot more helpful than ever before. You appear to know a lot about this.
I know top Instagram professionals would love this. It is like you read my thoughts! There are certainly a lot of info to take into consideration.
Do you have any video of that? Twitter pros would love your write up. Any team would be lucky to have you on it.
This evening I encountered a porcupine in the middle of New Braunfels. As it was small(football size), I assume that it is an adolescent.
Last Friday, October 20, 2017, I saw a dead porcupine on the side of Wurzbach Parkway near 281 in San Antonio. My girlfriend and I looked at each other puzzled as neither of us had ever seen a porcupine, alive or dead, ever in South Texas.
My grandson saw one while deer hunting in Brown county in central Texas on Nov 9th 2017 and took a picture with his phone . This was around 5:00 PM in a dry creek bed . My place is off of county road 333.
I live in vidor texas i think i saw a porkupine going torword my front steps i think it is liveing under my front porch this was at night but was grayish color and dark at end of quils at first i was trying figure out what it was not possem not racoon those i have seen lots of moved slow and kind of wadeled at first i thought about catching it because something eat a hole in my water line now glad i didnt try
December 9, 2017 a porcupine walked in front on my daughter’s house in Bexar county, San Antonio. It was the size of a beagle!
We were pulling in our driveway last night around 1:30am and one was crossing the driveway into the woods on the other side. It was about 1/2 the size of my 70lb dog. This is in Comal County about 15 min south of Canyon Lake.
My dog got quilled gray county texas
On my way to Lubbock from Denton, I hit what I thought was an armadillo but, when I took my car in because my bumper was messed up and the mechanic said nope, these are porcupine needles! I NEVER knew we had them! When I tell people this story they don’t believe it either!!
A porcupine made its way into my yard and climbed a very tall pine tree. I live west of Ropesville Texas in Terry County. We have never seen a porcupine in all the years we have lived here. My husband and son were able to shoot it in the tree, but getting it down was another story!
I live in Boerne in a neighborhood.
I was startled to see this animal up
In the oak tree in my backyard. I didn’t realize it was a porcupine since quills
were not extended. I watched it on and off all day. It was fascinating! This morning he is gone and moved on.
I am grateful for this website so I can report this sighting.
My wife and I saw and identified a large porcupine as a road kill on Industrial Road in Abilene on 7/03/19. We were really suprised not knowing they had migrated into Texas.
I’m seeing a porcupine on our ring camera. We live between Blanco and Johnson City Texas.
Just saw one this morning outside our neighborhood in north San Antonio. It was a small one, looked to be about the size of a large cat, but was unmistakable. I had to ask my daughter, an ecologist, if they exist here. I see armadillos, hogs, coyotes, an occasional fox, and deer here, but never a porcupine.
My son and I have seen a porcupine on two occasions while fishing the Cibolo Creek in Cibolo Tx. Also a former employer in Selma Tx… His dog had a run in with a porcupine. Had to take the dog to a Vet to have the quils removed.
Although backward movement of the quills is effectively stopped by the scales, forward movement is not restricted. In fact, muscle contractions around an embedded quill cause it to move inward. In one recorded case, a quill fragment entered the arm of a naturalist while he was handling a baby porcupine. Some forty-five hours later the point emerged from the man’s skin at a spot forty-two millimeters from where it entered. It traveled through the arm muscles at a rate of about one inch per day. No infection occurred and the man only occasionally felt a slight prickling sensation as the quill moved through his arm. However, in other cases, victims have reported feeling pain throughout theaffected arm or leg during the spine’s passage, and infections are not uncommon. The route traveled and the condition of the quill at the time of entry are probably responsible for these differences.
Saw one this morning on Grayson Cliff in Schertz, Texas. I have a photo for confirmation.
I have another visiting Porcupine in my yard. I have seen a Porcupine come through here occasionally, gets the dogs barking and moves on. This morning one was at the base of a tree in my yard and our two dogs went to investigate, After initial contact (curiously smelling within 3-4 inches of its tail) it slowly climbed a Live Oak tree. I live off of Old Ferry Rd. In NW TRAVIS County in Central Texas. I’ve lived here on and off for 60 years. Have only seen them over the last 2-3 years. I have seen numerous road kills especially in Burnet County over the last 10 years. Just say’n.
I live in Temple, Tx. My neighbors dog was attacked and took some quills to the mouth. I have lived in Bell County all my life. I have never before heard of porcupines in the Temple area.
Dec 1 2019
Just saw a dead one on River Road, New Braunfels & read the info above.
One walked across my deck last night caught on a security camera about 2 am. Lakeway, TX
Saw one yesterday evening (9pm) along the Hwy 45SW hike&bike path. It was very cute. Got a few snap shots of it.
Two sightings of porcupines on Barton Creek Greenbelt near Zilker Park downtown Austin.
Saw a dead porcupine in Lytle Texas this morning. Didn’t think they were this far south, and apparently, I was wrong.
Just saw and made pictures of a large porcupine in our backyard Wimberley, Texas this morning about 5:00 AM. Have never seen one here until now.
Recently moved to San Marcos Texas and have seen two deceased Porcupines in close proximity to each other on Lime Kiln Road. This in just the last three months. Saw a Facebook photo post this morning of a pair of dogs that were introduced to a porcupine….it looks painful!!!!
I got a blonde porcupine that travels across my yard and patio almost every night. I have 2 small dogs and I want this animal removed. I live in the Hill country close to comfort/Waring area. I do believe I know where it’s home is located as well here on my property.
hisnamewasralph@gmail.com
I just got a photo of a porcupine in my deer cam. Neighbor to my North has seen one also. We’re in North Bosque Co.