Winter is the perfect time to catch a glimpse of one of Utah’s most fascinating creatures — the porcupine. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge are partnering to host a special porcupine viewing event on Saturday, March 1, giving attendees the chance to see these unique animals in their natural habitat.

Porcupines are well known for their spiky coat of over 300,000 quills, which serve as a natural defense mechanism. Despite common myths, porcupines cannot shoot their quills, but they will slap their tail toward a predator, embedding the quills into an attacker’s skin. These quills have tiny barbs that make them difficult to remove.

“Porcupines are truly remarkable animals,” said Tonya Kieffer-Selby, DWR Northeastern Region conservation outreach manager. “We hosted this event for the first time last year, and it was a huge success! Many attendees had never seen wild porcupines before, and it was an unforgettable experience for them.”

Porcupines are primarily solitary, nocturnal mammals, but during winter, they can often be spotted during the day lounging in trees and feasting on tree bark, needles, and berries. Their increased visibility during winter makes this an ideal time to observe them in the wild.

Event details

• Date: Saturday, March 1
• Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Location: Ouray National Wildlife Refuge, 19001 Wildlife Refuge Road, Randlett, UT (about 35 miles southwest of Vernal)

Wildlife biologists from the DWR and the Refuge will be available to help visitors spot porcupines and answer questions. Spotting scopes and binoculars will be provided, but attendees are encouraged to bring their own if possible. Restroom facilities will be open during the event.

To reach the refuge:

• Travel on U.S. Highway 191, about 14 miles west of Vernal or 13 miles east of Roosevelt.
• Turn south on State Route 88 and continue for 14 miles.
• Turn left at the refuge entrance and follow the road for 1 mile to the headquarters.

While the event is free, participants are encouraged to register in advance on Eventbrite.

For the safety of the porcupines, pets are not allowed at the event. Though typically non-aggressive, porcupines will defend themselves if threatened. Unfortunately, many people first encounter porcupines when their dog returns with quills embedded in its face. If you or your pet ever have a run-in with a porcupine, it’s best to seek medical or veterinary assistance immediately.

This one-of-a-kind wildlife experience is a great opportunity for families and nature enthusiasts to learn about one of Utah’s most interesting forest dwellers. Don’t miss your chance to see these “Rocky Mountain sloths” up close!