A porcupine has established tenancy on a second-floor balcony at the Cottonwood Apartments on North 7th Avenue. The rodent arrived Tuesday evening and has shown no interest in the eviction notice taped to the sliding glass door.

Landlord Dale Haskins, 62, said he first noticed the animal when it declined to vacate during a showing for prospective tenants. “It just looked at me,” Haskins said. “Had that same expression my ex-wife gets when I mention the cabin.”

Fish, Wildlife and Parks wardens responded Wednesday morning. Warden Tara Kilgore assessed the situation from the parking lot with binoculars. She determined the porcupine falls under a gray area in state statute — not exactly wildlife in distress, not exactly a nuisance, and definitely not paying rent.

The tenant in unit 2B, a first-year MSU student named Kyle Brigstock, has adapted quickly. He leaves apple cores on the railing each evening. The porcupine accepts them with what Brigstock describes as “weary professionalism.” Brigstock has named the animal Herbert.

Haskins has contacted three pest removal services. Two declined the job. The third quoted $400 and asked if the porcupine had a security deposit. Haskins is now considering listing the balcony as a furnished studio with mountain views and “unique wildlife adjacency.”

Herbert appears settled. He has chewed a distinctive pattern into the wooden railing and ignores the wind chimes the previous tenant installed. The complex’s other residents have begun leaving out salt blocks, which wardens advise against but nobody has stopped.

Kilgore said her department will monitor the situation. She also noted that Herbert has better housing stability than several seasonal workers she knows.

The apple cores continue to disappear each morning.