Baby porcupine is 1st of its species born at Brookfield Zoo

BROOKFIELD, Ill.: A baby porcupine is the first of its species to be born at Brookfield Zoo.

The male baby porcupine, known as a porcupette, was born July 2, according to the zoo in Chicago's western suburbs. He weighed almost 1 pound (0.45 kilograms); and had soft quills that hardened after a few days.

The yet-to-be-named baby's parents are Lucia and Eddie.

Zoo officials have said they monitored Lucia and her baby for a while before determining she wasn't allowing him to nurse. Veterinary and animal care workers are now bottle-feeding the young porcupine, and they say he's thriving.

The new prehensile-tailed porcupine, with a small, hook-like tail, will join his parents in the Hamill Family Play Zoo at approximately 10 weeks of age.