My sister lives upstate (NY), 40 miles west of Albany.  They live in a
very rural, somewhat mountainous area, just north of the Catskills in
a log cabin.  Porcupines are chewing on different parts of the house,
particularly the back door and the bottom (wooden) part of their
trailer.  Could someone suggest a deterrent or repellant - short of
shooting them ? Thanks...oldesmoothy

Hi oldesmoothy,

Back to nature living sure can be nice, but some of these critters do
wreak havoc don't they?  We once had a small cabin that lost all four
of its bottom corners to porcupines. You have to wonder what the draw
is, since there is a whole forest of trees they could pick from – yet
they gnaw the house.

Usually the attraction is salt or other minerals. Porcupines are known
to chew off handles to shovels and axes because of the salty sweat
that people's hands have left on the tools. They are also known to
chew tires and car hoses for their mineral content.  Another favorite
is the glue used in construction wood – especially plywood and T-111. 
However, preservatives, such as copper napthanate and
pentachlorophenol, used in the manufacturing of plywood, also appear
to have some repelling properties.

============
REPELLENT
===========

Commercial repellents can be either "fear based" or "taste based." 
Note that none are poisonous. We aren't trying to kill these guys,
just deter them from doing any more damage.

Fear based repellents are made from the scents of other animals that
the porcupine would naturally fear, such as fox.  These would be
sprinkled in the yard and would serve to keep the porcupines away from
the vicinity of the house.


SHAKE AWAY 
http://www.shake-away.com/

SHAKE AWAY  - fox urine powder
http://www.shake-away.com/Critters.html

SHAKE AWAY – coyote urine powder
http://www.shake-away.com/Deer.html


Other sources or Shake Away
http://www.critter-repellent.com/porcupine_repellent.htm
http://www.birdandyard.com/products-bay/outdoor/all/shake-away.htm



SQUIRREL GO-WAY -   FOX URINE POWDER PACKS  [P.2]
http://www.biconet.com/catalog/critter.pdf

Bioconet – How to order the above
http://www.biconet.com/orders/shoppingCart.html


Taste based repellents just plain taste horrible. Porcupines would
still approach the house, but once they taste the bad flavor, would
not chew on it any more.  The two flavors that are commonly used are
HOT and BITTER.

These products are often available at garden centers, pet stores,
veterinary hospitals, or feed stores.

SCRAM 
http://www.petco.com/product_info.asp?webt=0&tab=1&sku=3699000220&cm_ven=lnk&cm_cat=58&cm_pla=3699000220&cm_ite=3699000220


ROPEL
http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page554.html


MILLERS HOT SAUCE
http://www.mastergardening.com/dee-1090.html


HOT PEPPER WAX
http://www.hotpepperwax.com/

Note:  Those last two products are capsaicin (chili pepper) based. Do
NOT get them on your hands!


================================
MORE ABOUT PORCUPINE CONTROL
================================


PORCUPINES AND THEIR CONTROL
http://www.wildlifedamagecontrol.com/porcupine.htm


PORCUPINES
http://www.havahart.com/nuisance/critters/porcupines.htm


WILD NEIGHBORS - PORCUPINES
http://www.fulcrum-resources.com/html/wild_neighbors_exc.html


And this I couldn't resist …

PORCUPINE
http://www.yampavalley.info/media/ag_and_envir/porcupine.jpg


So, that should be all your sister needs to get her going. If anything
I've said isn't clear, please feel free to ask for clarification using
you CLARIFY QUESTION button. Thanks for your question and good luck
with prickly nibblers.


-K


search terms: 

porcupine repellent
porcupine repel
porcupine capsaicin
porcupine control

Try using a repellent which contains an extremely bitter taste
deterrent. Something which contains Denatonium benzoate in it. For
peacde of mind, you can use something which also contains a nasty
smell. If you are not sure what Denatonium benzoate is, see
www.rcpharmachem.com