how far can porcupines throw their quills

Porcupines cannot actually “throw” their quills. This is a common misconception. When threatened, porcupines will often raise their quills to make themselves appear larger and more intimidating. If an attacker gets too close, the porcupine may release some of its quills, which can then become embedded in the attacker’s skin.

The quills are loosely attached to the porcupine’s skin and can be easily dislodged when they come into contact with an attacker. The quills are also coated with a waxy substance that helps them to stick to the attacker’s skin.

It’s worth noting that porcupines can’t control the direction or distance that their quills travel. The quills are simply released from the porcupine’s skin and can travel a short distance, usually no more than a few feet, before falling to the ground.

So, to summarize, porcupines don’t actually “throw” their quills, but rather release them as a defense mechanism when threatened. The quills can travel a short distance, but the porcupine has no control over their trajectory or distance.