a life lesson

Out snowshoeing with a colleague, scouting out a trail extension in Ashmun Creek Natural Area. Snowshoes offer a more heads up posture than XC skis for this work. I noticed a spray pattern of small poops about 15 ft in diameter. I'm looking down, puzzling over what would have made that. My colleague says 'look up.' Sure enough, there's Mr Porcupine sitting high in the tree, munching away on bark. Has to be a life lesson in that somewhere, just not sure what it is. Anyone care to fill in the life lesson?