Sierra Nevada Porcupine?

A place to explore the natural setting (geology, flora & fauna), people, constructed infrastructure and historical events that play and have played a part in shaping the Sierra Nevada as we know it today.
User avatar
c9h13no3
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1323
Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2018 1:19 pm
Experience: Level 1 Hiker
Location: San Mateo, CA

Re: Sierra Nevada Porcupine?

Post by c9h13no3 »

I think the video is probably better than any of the pictures I have. But I took a screen cap from it kinda showing the varmint from the side.
AnimalThing.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
"Adventure is just bad planning." - Roald Amundsen
Also, I have a blog no one reads. Please do not click here.
User avatar
MichaelRPetrick
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 90
Joined: Sun Apr 21, 2013 7:06 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Mill Valley, CA

Re: Sierra Nevada Porcupine?

Post by MichaelRPetrick »

Well after looking at the second photo, my considered opinion is that I'm no wildlife biologist and I have no clue what
I'm looking at. :nod:
User avatar
bobby49
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1225
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2017 4:17 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Sierra Nevada Porcupine?

Post by bobby49 »

I'm no wildlife biologist, either, but I have photographed about a bazillion yellow bellied marmots and hoary marmots over the last forty years. Throw in a few porcupines and badgers. In the photo above, that animal has a marmot tail, and its walk is like a marmot. I was thinking about the unusual dark streaking, and I thought maybe it had gotten into some wood ash from a fire.
User avatar
MichaelRPetrick
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 90
Joined: Sun Apr 21, 2013 7:06 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Mill Valley, CA

Re: Sierra Nevada Porcupine?

Post by MichaelRPetrick »

bobby49 wrote: Fri Jul 17, 2020 1:51 pm I'm no wildlife biologist, either, but I have photographed about a bazillion yellow bellied marmots and hoary marmots over the last forty years. Throw in a few porcupines and badgers. In the photo above, that animal has a marmot tail, and its walk is like a marmot. I was thinking about the unusual dark streaking, and I thought maybe it had gotten into some wood ash from a fire.
Most marmots I see are quite a bit darker brown overall. Could this be a senior citizen marmot whose coat has just gone a different color?
User avatar
bobby49
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1225
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2017 4:17 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Sierra Nevada Porcupine?

Post by bobby49 »

I think the answer is yes. I've seen some pretty old yellow bellied marmots, and they tend to grow gray fur on top.

Hoary marmots, on the other hand, tend to be quite gray through their entire life.
Shawn
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1061
Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2005 9:56 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Sierra Nevada Porcupine?

Post by Shawn »

c9h13no3 wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2020 9:31 pm
Shawn wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2020 9:19 pm Yeah, I was kind of wondering where the photo was taken.
Shadow lake inlet.
Ah, thanks. I should've known as I've been by there more times than I could possibly rationalize.
Dragonfly
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 31
Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2014 9:51 pm
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker
Location: Three Rivers, CA

Re: Sierra Nevada Porcupine?

Post by Dragonfly »

Wondering if it could be a porcupine with mange. The coloration looks a lot more like a porkie than a marmot, and the way it's moving suggests it's not particularly healthy. Mange isn't super-common in porcupines, but they sometimes get into rodent poison. If the poison doesn't kill them outright, it can tank their immune systems. Mange is one of the most common problems for any critter - bobcat, coyote, porcupine, even mountain lion - walking around with rodent poison in its bloodstream. And it's a widespread problem in even fairly remote parts of the Sierra Nevada.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brun ... -1.3405143
User avatar
Gogd
Topix Expert
Posts: 437
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2022 9:50 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Sierra Nevada Porcupine?

Post by Gogd »

Definitely not a marmot. The ears are relatively large and the eyes are set on the front of the skull, like a predator, versus on the side of the skull, like prey. Nor is it a Sierra porcupine, they have obvious quills. Looks like an old, PREGNANT fisher cat.
Ed
I like soloing with friends.
User avatar
Silky Smooth
Topix Regular
Posts: 154
Joined: Thu Oct 09, 2014 3:06 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Eastern Sierra

Re: Sierra Nevada Porcupine?

Post by Silky Smooth »

I once saw the cutest little porcupine with such personality. Black round little guy going up the trail and mad at us hikers for being on it. In greece we have lots of them and I grew up playing with them in the village in northwest Greece. Key word, i was playing with them, not the other way. Been poked a few times :) Around langley and cottonwood lakes we have some ragged looking marmots.
User avatar
erutan
Topix Expert
Posts: 492
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2015 4:46 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Sierra Nevada Porcupine?

Post by erutan »

We saw one along one of the San Joaquin forks near Red's Meadow - the only time I've seen one in the range, but they are there.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests