A porcupine named Mackenzie hitched an accidental ride from northern B.C. to the Okanagan—and back again—thanks to the dedication of a wildlife rescue pilot. Follow the heartwarming journey of a spiky stowaway, a compassionate team, and the skies they crossed to bring her home.
Porcupine on a Plane: A Wildlife Tale Like No Other
In a story fit for the big screen, a young porcupine dubbed Mackenzie recently took an unexpected and high-flying journey—from the forests of northern British Columbia to the Okanagan, and then back home—with a little help from humans who care deeply for wildlife.
A Surprise Hidden Beneath the Pilot’s Seat
The saga began when a salvaged airplane wreck, transported from Mackenzie, B.C., to Kelowna, revealed an unusual stowaway: a curious porcupine had tucked herself beneath the pilot’s seat. Workers unloading the plane were stunned when Mackenzie popped her head out on May 30 after surviving a multi-day trek by boat, helicopter, and trailer.
Rescue Mission Initiated
Initial attempts to lure her out failed, prompting a call to Eva Hartmann, founder of the Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society. Hartmann and her team gently sedated Mackenzie and brought her to their Summerland facility, where she received food, hydration, and rest.
“She was in good health,” Hartmann noted, “but wild animals must be released in their native territory.”
Enter the Skyborne Savior
That’s when Jayson Biggins—volunteer pilot and co-founder of Big to the Rescue—stepped in. A seasoned wildlife transporter with over 1,000 flight hours, Biggins offered to personally return the prickly passenger home to Mackenzie, B.C.
“This was my longest rescue flight yet,” he said, adding that he had just finished flying an orphaned fawn and injured eagle before taking on the porcupine mission.
Biggins borrowed a larger aircraft from Victoria Air Maintenance to avoid refueling stops and make the journey smoother for his quiet little cargo.
Back to the Wild, with a Spiky Goodbye
On June 6, after being carefully crated and loaded aboard the plane in Penticton, Mackenzie took her second flight—this time with full intention. Once they landed, Conservation Officer Herb Stark welcomed her back. Mackenzie, true to her species, thanked them with a rearward warning: a ready-to-quill tail.
“She was perfect,” Biggins chuckled. “Quiet, calm, just enjoying her ride.”
She’s now safely released in her original forested home, likely unaware of the incredible coordination and compassion that returned her to the wild.
A Mission Fueled by Kindness (and a Bit of Gas Money)
Biggins and his wife, Natalie Foley, run Big to the Rescue, a nonprofit aerial animal transport team fueled by love and community donations. In the past month alone, he’s rescued everything from hawks to bear cubs.
“I can’t fix everything, but I can do something,” he said. “That’s what matters.”
