Traditional weapon

Traditional weapon

The porcupine  defends itself against predators with his extremely sharp and barbed quills.

Therefor a porcupine quill might rightfully called a traditional weapon of self -defence. And indeed, fashioned into single long quills on necklaces, they very well might serve as such. The Africans around here, to who I showed and explained this concept, had a good laugh, probably because it makes so much sense and they had never thought of it as a weapon of (nearly unarmed) combat. These quills can be worn as jewellery and nobody will confiscate them as weapons, like it happens with knives and guns and spears.

They look pretty and can be made fashionable like this:

 

In order to use these quills in e.g. jewelry making more than the usual preparations are necessary. First they have to be thoroughly cleaned in hot soapy water, dried and de-barbed and de-sharpened. This can be achieved with fine scissors and a fine file. Sometimes they are filed down to such an extent, that the tips are almost rounded. This makes sense in most cases. And if this is not done, they remain relatively safe for wearing, but stay sufficiently sharp to pierce potential attacker’s eyes or hands etc. Unfortunately we have to think in these terms in South Africa. They are more handy and unobtrusive than pepper spray and I think I found out a real useful addition to self-defense gadgets. Then they have to be hollowed out (the center is quite soft) in order to attach them to e.g. beading wire or they can be pierced for the same purpose.

The Canadian and US Indians are famous for their quill crafts (see previous blog post).

I use quills from accidents on the farm where I live. The porcupines often cross roads and then become victims of road kills.

           Let me give you a brief overview on the porcupine as compiled by “National Geography”

           

Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum

Photograph by Bates Littlehales

The thousands of spiny quills covering a porcupine leave a lasting impression with predators bold enough to attack.

Fast Facts

Type:

Mammal

Diet:

Herbivore

 Average life span in the wild:

5 to 7 years

Size:

Head and body, 25 to 36 in (60 to 90 cm); Tail, 8 to 10 in (20-25 cm)

Weight:

12 to 35 lbs (5 to 16 kg)

 

Size relative to a tea cup:

The porcupine is the prickliest of rodents, though its Latin name means "quill pig." There are about two dozen porcupine species, and all boast a coat of needle-like quills to give predators a sharp reminder that this animal is no easy meal. Some quills, like those of Africa's crested porcupine, are nearly a foot (30 centimeters) long.

Porcupines have soft hair, but on their back, sides, and tail it is usually mixed with sharp quills. These quills typically lie flat until a porcupine is threatened, then leap to attention as a persuasive deterrent. Porcupines cannot shoot them at predators as once thought, but the quills do detach easily when touched.

Many animals come away from a porcupine encounter with quills protruding from their own snouts or bodies. Quills have sharp tips and overlapping scales or barbs that make them difficult to remove once they are stuck in another animal's skin. Porcupines grow new quills to replace the ones they lose.

The porcupines found in North and South America are good climbers and spend much of their time in trees. Some even have prehensile (gripping) tails to aid in climbing. The North American porcupine is the only species that lives in the U.S. and Canada, and is the largest of all porcupines. A single animal may have 30,000 or more quills. North American porcupines use their large front teeth to satisfy a healthy appetite for wood. They eat natural bark and stems, and have been known to invade campgrounds and chew on canoe paddles. North American porcupines also eat fruit, leaves, and springtime buds.

Other porcupine species live in Africa, Europe, and Asia. These animals usually live on the ground and can inhabit deserts, grasslands, and forests.

Female porcupines have between one and four young, depending on the species. Babies have soft quills at birth, which harden within a few days. Most young porcupines are ready to live on their own at about two months of age.”

I will soon put various pieces of quill-jewelry onto ‘etsy’ and provide the links on my next post. My jewellery can be sent to any potential receiver of a beautiful gift, worldwide. Please enquire at

bcasack@gmail.com

Good bye for today and keep well, always!         

Barbara