This time, the porcupine survived.

The city investigated a report Monday morning posted on its Fix It! Portland website that someone had tried to steal a spiky steel sculpture of a baby porcupine at the Portland International Jetport. The small sculpture made with sharpened spikes by New York artist Wendy Klemperer was recently installed to replace a similar porcupine sculpture that was stolen in the spring.

The sculpture by Wendy Klemperer that is part of a grouping at the Portland International Jetport features a baby porcupine following its mama across the rock. Courtesy city of Portland

The city investigated a possible tampering incident with this porcupine sculpture by Wendy Klemperer on the access road to the Portland International Jetport. The sculpture replaced a similar piece of art that was stolen from the property in the spring. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

The Fix It! Portland report may have been premature, city communications director Jessica Grondin said.

“The staff went out to look, and it looked like the back of the porcupine had just came loose,” she said. “It didn’t look like any harm had come to it or that anyone had jostled with it.”

The replacement porcupine was installed in late May, secured with a chunk of granite and a stake. The piece features a baby porcupine following its mama across a rock. The original piece was part of a larger installation called “Glimpse” that includes a herd of deer and a wolf. The installation has stood along the woodland entrance to the jetport since 2011. It was donated by William and Mary Hamill of Yarmouth.

Grondin said the airport staff will monitor the sculpture closely.

“We might have to look at potentially moving the location,” she said. “We hope no one is trying to steal it again. But it looks OK.”

Bob Keyes can be contacted at 791-6457 or at:

bkeyes@pressherald.com

Twitter: pphbkeyes

Related Stories