| Obtaining a thorough, quantitative understanding of how individuals in a species respond to different environmental variables is critical when attempting to understand their use and selection of habitats. The North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) is a widely studied generalist herbivore thought to select habitat based on predation risk and food availability. Despite this, no quantifiable diet study has been conducted on the porcupine to explore this aspect of their habitat selection; only observational studies have been used to describe their diet. Here we present the results of a microhistological study aimed to quantify the summer diet of 13 North American porcupines in Tolowa Dunes State Park. Plant species with the highest percent abundance represented in fecal material were coastal willow (Salix hookeriana), pacific willow (Salix lucida), wild cucumber fruit (Marah sp.), and waterpepper (Polygonum hydropiperoides). Attaining a comprehensive, quantitative understanding of porcupine summer diet composition is relevant to local research of this species, especially considering their recent decline in Humboldt County, California. Results from this study will provide valuable information to those studying the decline, habitat selection, or foraging ecology of porcupines in this region.
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