

by Wendy Cooper

Australian National University Introduction How do porcupines make love? You would probably think the answer is very carefully, but you would probably be wrong. The answer is more improbable and much more bizarre than that. While browsing in the basement of the library one day, I came across two papers which detailed in great detail the details of the porcupine's sex life. The information contained in these two papers is of such great importance it is paraphrased and presented here. The next time a friend asks you how porcupines make love, you can set them straight by describing these events (in as much detail as you dare). The Animals The porcupines in the study were part of a colony kept at the Biology Department at the University of Buffalo during the 1940s. The colony consisted of 5 females (Maudie, Nightie, Prickles, Snooks and Skeezix) and 3 males (Old Dad, Johnnie and Pinkie - who was an albino). It was noted that the animals of both sexes objected to being stroked or having their feet, tail base or genitals touched by the authors. The Behaviour Female pre-copulation In July/August, as the mating season approached, the female porcupine would often rub her genitals on structures such as food and water dishes, sticks, and the cage wire. As the season progresses she accepted and sought more frequent tactile stimulation (presumably from the human investigators). As the mating season approached, young females become more nervous and excited and put more "vim, vigor and action" into their activities. They would even "seize, straddle, and ride sticks about the cage" walking erect and stimulating their genitalia with the stick. This period of excitement is followed by a period when the female went off her food, remained close to the male and "moped". During this period the female even accepted the insertion of a thermometer into the vagina (which she resisted at other times). Male courtship behaviour When placed in a cage with a female the male porcupine toured the whole area rubbing everything with his nose. He carefully smelled all items, paying closest attention to objects which have been in contact with the female and the places where she had urinated. He often walked about the cage on three legs, clutching at his genitals with his free left front paw. Like the females, the male rubbed his genitals on objects in the cage, and it appeared that the larger the object the more attractive as a rubbing place. The authors describe having to remove a one and a half inch spike from the frame of one cage as they feared to animal's vigorous rubbing would result in injury. Males also indulged in "stick riding" as described for females. Males would often "sing" (Actually described as whining) during this period and became more aggressive with other males. When the male encountered the female porcupine he smelled her all over, then reared up on his hind legs, his penis fully erect. If the female was not ready she ran away. If she is prepared for mating she also reared up and faced the male, belly-to-belly. In this position most males then sprayed the female with a strong stream of urine (In one case, urine was measured on the lab floor 6 foot 7 inches from the point of discharge), soaking her from head to foot. (Johnnie, a young male, would charge the female from this position, trying to wrestle her to the ground and make sexual contact ventrally. He was never successful.) She would object vocally strike with her front paws, as though boxing, threaten or try to bite, or shake off the urine and run away. If ready for mating the female did not object strongly to this shower. This courtship routine may occur several times in the days or weeks leading up to copulation. Mating Mating occurs in November or December. While females at the peak of receptivity would accept any male, males required a period of close association with the females before they could mate with them. The male makes sexual contact from behind the female. The spines of both animals were relaxed and lay flat. His thrusts are of the "usual nature" and were produced by flexing and straightening the knees. Males do not grasp the female in any way. Mating occurred until the male was exhausted. Each time he broke away from the female she would re-establish contact. One younger female made grunting whines throughout. If males refused to co-operate, the female approached a nearby male and acted out the male role in coition with the uninvolved male. Females only remained sexually receptive for a few hours and then rejected males. Post-copulation While the pre-copulatory period was described as "warming up", the post-copulatory period was a "cooling off" time. Females rejected males, engaging in the same activities as for pre-copulation, but in reverse order. Conclusions Young children should be banned from the university library basements. Sometimes the most improbable science is also the truest. Never stand close to cage which contains courting porcupines. References Albert R. Shadle, Marilyn Smelzer & Margery Metz (1946) The sex reactions of porcupines (Erethizon d. dorsatum) before and after copulation. Journal of Mammalogy 27(2): 116-121. Albert R. Shadle (1946) Copulation in the porcupine. Journal of Wildlife Management 10(2): 159-162.