Porcupines can be very real detriment to domestic pets and farm animals. Dogs are often the most affected when their curiosity leads them to sniff out and nuzzle up to a porcupine. This more often than not leads to a very painful trip to the vet not to mention a potentially expensive one for the owner.

Porcupines have proven beneficial in many ways for humans. While not occurring as often as in the days when the country was being settled, porcupines provide an easy hunt for humans. Other uses for the porcupines by humans include using the quills for decoration and even as a hairbrush. Their bristly hair is used currently in fly fishing lures. Perhaps the most important benefit of all to us is the great pleasure gained in watching the animals on film and in the wild as one of the most interesting animals in nature, the porcupine.