Mr. P. (for Pocupine), more familiarly known as Willie (for William’s Pride Apples which he loves) was back at Tucker and Carol’s place last evening — this time in the Mirabelle tree, which is a plum, not an apple tree. He arrived about seven o’clock and stayed until ten “or so” according to his hosts.
This time, though, Willie was apparently not after any actual fruit. According to Tucker, this particular tree has neither blossoms or budding fruit to offer — a fact which did not deter Willie in the least. He happily ate foliage, twigs, and small branches, bending back the ends of limbs until they snapped off and he could munch to his heart’s content. Apparently, plum wood tastes good as an evening snack should — if you are a porcupine.
So far, he has not discovered the apple tree at the neighbor’s place next door — or he’s saving it for later. “It’s loaded,” says Tucker, who isn’t sure if Willie is sussing out the apples by sight or by smell. Willie P. is silent on the matter — no doubt confident that no one is going to argue with him one way or another.
Like all of his relatives, Mr. P. has a full complement of quills which can be seen on his back, sides and tail, only partially disguised by his soft, wild-looking hairdo. And, as many a curious dog has learned to his dismay those quills detach easily from the porcupine but from a probing canine proboscis… not so much.
Thanks for the great photos, Tucker!