Porcupines of the Catskills: Ancient, Armored, and Odd

NORTH AMERICAN PORCUPINE

The North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) is a long-established resident of the Catskill forest. Its presence here likely dates back 10,000 to 12,000 years, arriving after the last glacial retreat during the early Holocene. Since then, it has remained a largely solitary figure in the region’s mixed hardwood and coniferous forests — rarely seen (roadkill doesn’t count), but unmistakably part of the landscape.

In an effort to make sure you better know your neighbors, here are a few fun facts about these fellas.

• Porcupines are the second-largest rodent in North America, only beavers are bigger.

• They’re covered in more than 30,000 barbed quills that detach on contact and burrow deeper with movement.

• Despite common myth, porcupines do not shoot their quills, but their tails are used to deliver them with force when threatened.

• One of the porcupine’s few natural predators is the fisher (we covered them a few weeks back), which is capable of flipping the animal and targeting the vulnerable underside.

• Their front incisors grow continuously, requiring constant gnawing to maintain function.

• Winter diets consist primarily of the inner bark of trees such as hemlock, beech, and sugar maple.

• They crave salt and will chew on anything that contains it, including tool handles, gear, and even car parts.

You never know when this info will come in handy during a trivia night...

VOTE APPROVED

It looks like we’re writing a book my friends! The vote has passed with a 98.5% approval rating. This will be uncharted territory — but it’ll be a good time and a heck of a learning experience.

My goal: to create an approachable collection and companion that is focused on the rich history and nature of the Catskills. If done right, this book will deepen our connection to this wonderful place, and in the process, support conservation efforts across the region. I’ve already started mapping out some of the topics and will report back to get some feedback on additional subjects to cover. Appreciate the support. Now, we march forward.

THE BULLETIN

Want to spread the good word about your business, a project you’re working on, a hire, or just want to say hi to 26,000 friends?

Neuland Social Club is a new kind of social club in Stone Ridge… by and for makers, creatives, doers and visionaries who enjoy the company of others and a good ROI (Return of Inspiration). Find out more at neulandny.com

REPORT

Sunrise 6:04 AM
Sunset 7:47 PM
Fire Danger [HIGH]
Air Quality [FAIR]
Moon Phase [WANING CRESCENT]
The Lyrids meteor shower reaches its peak at 3 AM on the 22nd.

ADOPT PETS

This week, I present Dasha the Giant Schnauzer and Lab Mix, River a Hemingway Polydactyl cat (translation: a cat with a few too many toes), and the best-named goat in history, Jessica Al-Baaaah.

LAND 

I’ve come across quite a few hunting cabins in my day — most make me want to call my GP and figure out when I got my last tetanus shot. So having said that, this one in Lanesville is actually pretty sweet, especially since it’s backed up against Forever Land.

GAME

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CHECK IT OUT

The last Feast & Friends Supper Club until fall is here! Head to Shandaken Inn on Sunday, April 27th for great food, great company, and awesome tunes by DJ Whippoorwill. RSVP HERE.

 RSVP SO WE GET ENOUGH BEER & FOOD

TUESDAY 22ND

Ommegang Brewery, Cooperstown - Line Dancing from 6-8pm two-step

Colony, Woodstock - Mother Mayhem Karaoke at 6:30pm have fun

Tinker Street Cinema, Woodstock - Swamp Night at 7pm roll the film

Tubby's, Kingston - Live performance with Brennan Wedl, Allie Young, and Kendra McKinley at 7pm tix

WEDNESDAY 23RD

Andes - Earth Week Clean-Up from 9am-1pm love it

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - Vieux Farka Touré at 7pm grab a ticket

The Pines, Mount Tremper - Bingo Night with the legend Bobby Tisdale and live music from 5-9pm smash burgers

Hudson Community Incubator, Catskill - Main Street Supper Club with Leah Guadagnoli from 6-8pm join waitlist

Avalon Lounge, Catskill - Tunes by Rodney Alan Greenblat and Rich Panish from 7:30-9:30pm details

Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale - WTF Wednesdays: Green Room at 7:30pm tix

THURSDAY 24TH

Lost Book Shop, Delhi - The Lost Writers Guild from 6-7:30pm learn more

Assembly, Kingston - Four Winters, Screening & Conversation with Director, Writer, & Producer Julia Mintz from 7-9pm get a ticket

West Kill Supply, Kingston - Trivia from 6:30-8:30pm cheers

Angry Orchard, Walden - Blossom Cider Pairing Dinner at 6pm sip

Colony, Woodstock - Chrome Horse: A Tribute to Bob Dylan at 7pm info

Park Theatre, Hudson - Synesthetic Sessions at 7pm details

Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale - Local Film: Bird Sanctuary at 7pm check it out

Tinker Street Tavern, Woodstock - Major Mayhem Karaoke at 8pm have fun

Tubby's, Kingston - Performances by Psymon Spine, Open Head, and Freakout Spot DJs at 7pm learn more

FRIDAY 25TH

Citiot, Catskill - An Arbor Day Reading & Concert Benefiting Catskill Tree Council at 6pm cool cool cool

Starlite Motel, Kerhonkson - Catskills Cocktail Club x Forno Rosso pizza from 5-10pm delicious

Union Grove Distillery, Arkville - Trivia Night from 6-9pm country and western

Ashokan Center, Olivebridge - Northeast Blacksmiths Association’s Spring Hammer-In 2025 heck yeah

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - Terrapin Family Band at 7pm grab a tix

Belvedere Inn, Stamford - Karaoke Night sing it

Rough Draft, Kingston - Live Music with Spero Sounds from 5:30-7:30pm enjoy

Headwaters Arts Center, Stamford - Seed Paper Making Class from 12-2pm make more stuff

Skate Time, Accord - Silks, Suedes, and Velour Adult Skate at 8pm have fun out there

SATURDAY 26TH

Rose Hill Farm, Red Hook - Blossom Fest from 12-6pm (until April 27) its a big one

Catskill Water Discovery Center, Arkville - How Catskills Geology Shapes its Floods at 1pm interesting

Fuller Market, Kingston - The Fuller Market: Spring Edition from 10am-5pm (until the 27th) big event

Olive Free Library, West Shokan  - Library Fundraiser with live music & dinner from 6-8pm support our libraries

Oliver’s, Mount Tremper - Fireside Dinner Series at 7pm tix

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - Masters Of The Telecaster at 7pm grab a ticket

Catskill Center, Mount Tremper - Volunteer Orientation: Pollinator Garden from 11am-12:30pm check it out

Spillian, Fleischmanns - Heart of the Catskills: Paws for Celebration Fundraiser from 3-6pm learn more

Athens Cultural Center, Athens - Gel Plate Mono-Printing with Celia Buchanan from 1-4pm make stuff

The Grange of Hudson Valley, Coxsackie - Spring Social from 4-8pm details

Van Smokey, Livingston Manor - Live tunes with JP Carmody at 8pm

SUNDAY 27TH

Sunshine Colony, Livingston Manor - Movie Night: Lemonade at 6pm enjoy

Coxsackie - The Fourth Annual Earth Day Trash Crawl at 10am-1pm good stuff

Left Bank Ciders, Catskill - Spring Mushroom Storytelling: Fungal Allies From The Orchard with Catskill Fungi at 4pm dig it

Thomas Cole, Catskill - Arbor Day and Earth Day Celebration from 2-4pm more info

Levon Helm Studios, Woodstock - Performance by Martha Wainwright at 8pm tix

Ashokan Center, Olivebridge - Pine Tree Flyers Concert at 7pm details

White Feather Farm, Saugerties - Kundalini Yoga, Meditation, Gong Immersion with HariPrakaash from 10-11:30am details

Assembly, Kingston - Comedy Night with Beth Stelling at 8pm tix

MONDAY 28TH

Joust Juice Bar & Cafe, Catskill - Closing Party for Betsy Jacks Paintings - "Embodiment" from 2-6pm info

Scramble Answer: RESERVOIR