Milwaukee County Zoo announces birth of prehensile-tailed porcupine

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee County Zoo is excited to announce the birth of a prehensile-tailed porcupine, born March 27 in the Small Mammals building.

The zoo says the baby, whose sex is not yet known, is the second offspring of mom Quinn and dad Seamus. 

Their first offspring, Bristle, was born at the zoo last May, and recently moved to the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa. 

The zoo says mom, Quinn, groomed the baby as soon as it was born and began nursing it very quickly. 

Zookeepers say the baby is gaining coordination between its tail and feet and can now navigate its entire habitat, even climbing the branches.

Prehensile-tailed porcupines are born with quills that are covered by red fur. The zoo says as the baby grows, it will gradually lose its red fur, revealing its quills. 

Quinn, Seamus and the baby also share a habitat with a pair of armadillos -- Mona and Mira. The zoo says all five animals are getting along well and can be viewed by the public in the Small Mammals building.