how far can a porcupine shoot its quills

Porcupines cannot actually “shoot” their quills. This is a common misconception. Instead, their quills are loosely attached to their skin and can be easily detached and released when they feel threatened or are defending themselves.

When a porcupine is threatened, it will often raise its quills to make itself appear larger and more intimidating. If an attacker gets too close, the porcupine may release some of its quills by shaking its body or using its muscles to loosen them. The quills can then become embedded in the attacker’s skin, causing pain and discomfort.

The distance that a porcupine’s quills can travel when released is relatively short, typically only a few feet (about 1-2 meters) at most. This is because the quills are not propelled by any sort of mechanism, but rather simply fall off the porcupine’s body when released.

It’s worth noting that porcupines are generally not aggressive animals and will only release their quills as a last resort when they feel threatened or cornered.