Binghamton Zoo Has a New Addition

The Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park has welcomed another resident. A prehensile-tailed porcupine was born on June 21st to parents Zoey and Mattie! The sex can not be determined yet.

The new addition, who weighed in at 430 grams, is special because it's part of a species survival plan that started when Maddie, the female porcupine, came to the Binghamton Zoo back in November of 2014.

Here's something I didn't know - baby porcupines are called porcupettes, and they are born with quills that are soft and bendable. The quills begin to harden within the first few days of birth and reach the mature stage in about 10 weeks.

What makes these porcupines special is that they have a prehensile tail that allows them to grasp branches for better balance.

Prehensile-tailed porcupines also have curved claws that help them climb, since they spend a great deal of time in trees and brush, rock crevices, tangles tree roots and logs, where they often nest.

Once the sex is determined the new porcupette will be given a name.

The porcupette is on display currently at the Binghamton Zoo located at 60 Morgan Street in Binghamton during regular hours, daily from 10a-4p.

The Binghamton Zoo brings back so many memories of my childhood, I plan on taking my granddaughter there to see the new addition, maybe I'll see you there.