A porcupine doesn't shoot its quills. It doesn't have to. When an animal takes a swipe at it or bites at it, what that animal ends up coming in contact with is the quills. It doesn't take that much pressure for these quills to come off in you, but when hitting or biting ...well, that's more than enough pressure to have a few stick in you.
Porcupine not under stress (above). Notice how the quills lay flatter here.
When a porcupine is stressed or fearful its quills stand on end just the way your hairs do (especially on the back of your neck) when you are really afraid ...the way a cat's hair does when it's ready for a fight (especially down its back). Hair also is more easily shed when you are frightened or stressed. Quills are actually modified hairs, so they stand up as well as come out easily when their owner is under stress just as hairs do.
Here is what a porcupine looks like when he is under stress or fearful.
When he is in protection mode as in this second pic, he continually turns so that his rear is facing a would-be attacker. With quills that long, good luck getting your paw, hand or jaws past those quills! Look how long they are!
When a porcupine is stressed or fearful its quills stand on end just the way your hairs do (especially on the back of your neck) when you are really afraid ...the way a cat's hair does when it's ready for a fight (especially down its back). Hair also is more easily shed when you are frightened or stressed. Quills are actually modified hairs, so they stand up as well as come out easily when their owner is under stress just as hairs do.
When he is in protection mode as in this second pic, he continually turns so that his rear is facing a would-be attacker. With quills that long, good luck getting your paw, hand or jaws past those quills! Look how long they are!
