Using non-invasive survey methods to detect the presence of wildlife are evolving at a rapid pace. For some species, a lack of verified survey methods can limit their conservation and management. A species for which few non-invasive techniques are currently available is the North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum). Although distributed across North America, evidence suggests that porcupines have declined in the west. Porcupines occur at low densities and do not respond to many commonly used baits. Porcupines are seasonally deficient in sodium, and this trait may be useful for non-invasive surveys using sodium-soaked wood blocks and identifying porcupines by dentition patterns. The frequency of chewing on wood blocks by non-target species, however, increases our uncertainty in detecting porcupines. Thus, we conducted a pilot project to evaluate our ability to genetically identify porcupine from their saliva on salted wooden blocks. We collected swabs directly from the inner cheek as a control and swabs of wood blocks chewed on by a captive North American porcupine at the Sequoia Park Zoo. We detected porcupine DNA using DNA metabarcoding in all of our control and wood block samples. Future efforts should quantify how the degradation of DNA in the field will influence DNA analyses.

Sean Matthews, Ph.D. is the Conservation Biology Program Manager with the Institute for Natural Resources at Oregon State University. Sean is dedicated to the conservation of iconic and vulnerable species and ecosystems through applied field research, science communication and education, and policy intervention. He engages with federal and state agencies, indigenous leaders, academic partners, private industry representatives, rural communities, and urban populations to address shared conservation challenges. Some of Sean’s recent research includes investigating the response of forest carnivores to landscape changes brought by wildfire, evaluating the feasibility of reintroducing fishers, and developing survey techniques for porcupines.