evidence: Family Rural Lifestyle Understanding Porcupines How does one porcupine interact with another? Very carefully! Porcupines are not aggressive animals but if you see one up close, don't make it mad. By Successful Farming Staff Successful Farming Staff The content on Agriculture.com is by created by trained journalists who have become subject-matter experts in their fields. You may see some content using the byline "Successful Farming Staff." The content is primarily from information or a press release provided by other entities – such as the USDA, a university, or agricultural company. The press release has been vetted and reviewed by a staff editor. The content is edited and changed to reflect the voice and style of Successful Farming. Successful Farming's Editorial Guidelines Published on August 10, 2012 Close The porcupine is the second-largest rodent in North America after the beaver. But it's not their size that scares me; it's the quills! Yvonne Barkley is an associate extension forester with the University of Idaho. She says the native range of the porcupine includes all of the Western, Northern, and also the Northeastern U.S. They live in forests and hang out in trees.