Feeling neglected on his birthday, Ereth, the cantankerous old porcupine, sets out looking for his favorite treat and instead finds himself acting as "mother" to three young fox kits.
Trails an adult male North American porcupine as he looks for food, fights predators, and battles for a chance to mate, and follows a baby male as he grows up.
When Cork and Fuzz agree to babysit a young porcupine, Cork ends up doing most of the work, and when Fuzz gets into some trouble, it is up to both Cork and the baby to come to his assistance.
Discusses the defenses used by a porcupine, including its quills, its strong scent, and its spiky tail, and covers their habitat and eating and sleeping habits.