Meet up with Quill Nye for an interview, and he might just arrive on the scene from above...
That’s because he’s a prehensile-tailed porcupine! Read on for an excerpt from an interview with the adorable Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo ambassador.
It’s easy to see that you’re an expert climber. I’ve been wanting to get into rock climbing, and I know there are plenty of kids out there who want to get better at scaling trees. Do you have any tips for us?
Oh yes, always make sure you have three points of contact. It will help you be able to keep your balance and not fall! I always have two feet and my tail holding me onto the trees when I’m climbing.
Thank you! I’ll be sure to keep that in mind. Okay, so, to kick things off, I have to bring up your work as a member of the animal ambassador team with the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. How did you get chosen for the team?
Photo Credit: Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
Quill Nye the porcupine
I was only a bright-eyed little prickly baby when I came to live at Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. I learned quickly how to work with all kinds of people, and even though I’m not very cuddly, I loved meeting new people!
I bet they loved meeting you, too. Where do you hope your team will travel next?
I would love to be able to go to the Foley [Gulf Coast] Hot Air Balloon Festival, but it makes me a little nervous seeing as I’m so pokey.
I hope you get to go this year. I’m sure there’s a way your zookeeper can help you experience the festival safely. Once the day’s adventures are done, how do you wind down once you’re back at your place?
Since I am nocturnal and like to be awake at night, once I get done working and meeting everyone, I love to end my day with a snack of my favorite treats and take a well-deserved nap!
Well, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed meeting you, and I don’t want to keep you from your nap. But before we wrap things up, I’ve got to ask for your favorite way to prepare sweet potatoes. I’ve heard you love them, and I’m always looking for a good recipe.
I do love sweet potatoes! Yum! My favorite way to eat them is when they are raw and cut up into quarter-sized pieces, so they last longer and have a nice crunch!
“Yum” is right. And I think I see your zookeeper coming over with some of those treats now, so I’ll get out of your hair...err, quills. Thanks for chatting with us, Quill Nye.
*Interviews are edited for length and clarity.
Thank you to Wildlife Interpretation and Learning Department Keeper Matthew Dondlinger for his contributions.