Porcupines are a large species of rodent, only second in size to the North American Beaver. They have small heads, short legs, and small eyes. They have a brownish black to glossy-black coloration. their coat is made up of a thick, wooly underlayer covered by coarse guard hairs and sharp, hollow quills.

They inhabit forests with white pine, eastern hemlock, and various hardwood species. They reach a maximum length of 78 cm and a tail length of 22.5 cm. They are herbivores that primarily eat berries, roots, foliage, and stems of plants. They are very skilled climbers and will often spend their time in tree tops.