Dallas Zoo

The mystery mom has been revealed... It's a North American porcupine!

Meet Lillia, our newest porcupette. Born on May 3 to first-time parents Sylvie and Lemon, Lillia is the first North American porcupine born in Dallas Zoo history!

If she looks like a tiny adult, that's because porcupines are precocial, meaning they're born surprisingly independent. She left the birthing den within hours of being born, and by just 8 days old, she was already climbing to the tops of the trees in her habitat. And here's a fun fact – porcupines aren't born with sharp quills! At birth, their quills are soft and fur-like. Once exposed to air, they begin to harden and firm up within about an hour.

For now, Lillia and Sylvie are bonding behind the scenes. Once they're ready, they'll begin making appearances on the Wild Encounters Stage. Stay tuned for updates on this spiky little superstar!

She’s spiky, she’s spinning, and she’s in labor… can you guess the species? 👀

We’re kicking it wild with Dallas Trinity Football Club! DTFC took their shot at Goal Wild! Sponsored by Reliant Energy ® at Illuminature, testing their skills under the lights and getting a taste of the wild side of play. Catch them back on home turf for their final home match on May 16.