Quick Answer
Porcupines eat wood and bark due to their dietary need for cellulose, a key component found in plant material that they lack in their digestive system. This behavior is crucial for their survival and overall health. Porcupines also use wood and bark for fiber and other essential nutrients.
Dietary Needs and Adaptations
Porcupines are herbivores and their digestive system is specialized to break down and extract nutrients from plant material. They have a unique, multi-part stomach that houses microbes that help to break down cellulose, a complex carbohydrate found in plant cell walls. This adaptation allows them to thrive on a diet rich in fiber and low in protein. In the wild, porcupines will typically eat the bark, twigs, and leaves of trees and shrubs, as well as the cambium layer, a nutrient-rich layer of tissue found beneath the bark.
Foraging and Nutrient Acquisition
Porcupines will forage for wood and bark in early winter, when other food sources are scarce, and store them in their cheek pouches for later consumption. They are able to carry up to 2 pounds of material in their pouches at a time, which they will then dry and store in their burrows for up to 6 months. This behavior allows them to survive the harsh winter months when other food sources are unavailable. When foraging, porcupines will often use their keen sense of smell to locate the best tree species for nutrient content and palatability.
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