Porcupines are Back. Dammit.

It seems our place is too tasty to resist. After a quiet year, the porcupines are back. Knocking down and chewing up sunflowers and other irresistables. We know the syndrome; it will not end there.

They have acres of natural bush where I leave them alone, and they can live their natural lives. But now they are climbing fences into the zone where my gardens and my hounds are. This will not stand. And it will not end well for the porkies.

So tonight I'm setting up the big trap. And tomorrow digging a big hole. This is a lousy job, and I hate it. But there is no choice. Dammit.

The porcupine can be easily approached and killed with a club because of its plodding gait. This trait has saved the lives of hungry Natives, trappers, and miners in times past. For this reason, although the hunting season is open all year with no bag limit, many people do not kill porcupines without cause. Some people find the meat too strong, but in some areas of the state, porcupines with their heavy layer of fat are considered a delicacy.

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=northamericanporcupine.uses

So at least maybe they're dinner? Or chicken feed?

The quills are used for some things also, but I've never had a porcupine to experiment with.

I wonder what the fat could be used for? Candle making, fire starters, baking if the smell doesn't stay after melting it?

Have you considered adding a couple of electric wires to the top of the fence? Bait the wire with p-butter and a favorite food stuck to it, so they get a serious shock the first time they meet the hot wire and maybe they'll go eat the neighbor's sunflowers?

Good luck trapping them. As you say - they've got lots of woodland where you'll leave them be, so having a restricted zone isn't unreasonable, even if it's unfortunate.

Bummer! We see them in the tree-tops each spring, snacking on the tender buds, but then they disappear. I find them super-charming and hope they never become a pest for me.

I really like them.  They are quiet, peaceful, basically fearless animals and I do all I can to avoid hurting them.  That said, I've been to the emergency room twice with my dogs to get quills removed, and two other times I was able to remove the quills myself.  I can't risk my dogs no matter how much I like the porcupines.  I feel for you.

I have not seen porcupines though I know that the cat has because sometimes we have to remove a couple of quills.

We keep telling her to leave them alone.

I saw one of these pioneer-type reality shows where they hunted a porcupine that was up in a tree and had it for dinner.

Hopefully, all goes well for the removal.

I think kill zones are unreasonable.
I can understand your frustration etc.
Can the fence be improved with a top section leaning outwards for instance.
My view is we moved in to their zone and need to co exist !

from Porkupine soultions
"The best way to prevent Porcupine intruders is to modify your property to make it unappealing to Porcupines.
Start by building a fence around trees, gardens, and where damage has been most prevalent.
Porcupines might be able to climb fences but a wire strip at top of the fence installed at a 65-degree angle will make it harder for them to climb over.
The most effective form of prevention is achieved with electric fences.
Electric fences should be placed a 1 ½ inch above 18-inch fine mesh wiring fence.
Trees can be protected by wrapping around trunks 30-inch high wire fences that will reduce their feeding damage."
In my research from Australia I was surprised to see they are considered rodents and also are protected in some areas

I think "kill zone" is sort of a hot button phrase that doesn't describe the situation very well. Allow me to explain.

I would estimate that 75% of my property is natural bush -- lots of room to play. 10% is unfenced, an intertidal zone if you will, managed by me by day and by wildlife by night. The last 15% is fenced, containing my gardens, fruit trees, and hounds.

I am protective of my 15%. This is where I grow my food, feed pollinators and migratory birds, and (I think) make a difference after years of hard labour. So, any creature that engages in destructive activities in my 15% will not enjoy my response. There is no macho chest-beating in this. It is an unfortunate but practical necessity. If I have to, I will weed my garden.

I want to emphasize that I recognize and respect the differing opinions here. Many will not agree. I don't pretend to own the whole truth. I am only doing what I can.

Thanks Douglass.
I live in the Forest full of kangaroos down to echidna, and in the past many 'towny' people have thought it fair game to slaughter.
Its probably easier to say that management of the introduced species has stopped the activity.