Porcupine & the Outhouse

A few years ago, the local boy scouts got a little more interest and the place they use as their campground needed some "improvements". I could editorialize a bit and say how the interest won't last, and the idea of Boy Scout improving a campground isn't really the best, but it willcause someone angst, so I'll stop.A new outhouse was built, which the local red squirrels and deer mice found useful. They shredded the toilet paper left over winter. A year or so later, the porcupines found it and due to the sodium content of the plywood, porcupines like to gnaw it. As you can see they are good at what they do.

Last summer, I was riding my bike and stopped by, it's a great place for birds, tiger beetles and critter tracks. It's located along a river and in the middle of a spruce-fir forest, with a closed bog. Anyway, I heard a noise, walking around I came to the outhouse and a porcupine blissfully munching. I was able to walk to within 10 feet of him. The camera was back in my jeep. The area outside the door is littered with quills and scat.