Does it hurt the porcupine if you pull off one of its quills?

Porcupines can voluntarily shed their quills if they feel threatened. However, they can also release their quills in self-defense if they accidentally hit a predator. While losing a quill is not usually harmful to the porcupine, it can leave them exposed to attack from other animals. In some cases, quills can penetrate the skin of predators and cause infection or serious injuries. Additionally, if a quill enters the porcupine's own tissues it can cause painful abscesses