North American porcupine [SEP] IUCN conservation status
often hit by vehicles while crossing roads.
Porcupines are infamous among backpackers and backpacking publications for their love of salt. More specifically, for eating road salt covered boots left outside of tents overnight. They have a similar reputation among forestry workers of all types for trying to eat their sweat soaked (and thus salty) gloves and the similarly sweat covered wood handles on tools.
Porcupines and humans Conservation status.
Globally, the North American porcupine is listed as a species of least concern. It is common throughout its range
Rothschild's porcupine
Rothschild's porcupine, "Coendou rothschildi", is a species of rodent in the family Erethizontidae.
It is usually considered endemic to Panama. A population in western Ecuador belongs either to this species or to "Coendou bicolor". Because of the confusion over its taxonomic status and because its ecology is little known, the IUCN has listed its conservation status as "data deficient".
Taxonomy.
"Mammal Species of the World" treats "Coendou rothschildi" as a valid species endemic to