Arresting Armadillos
Why did the chicken cross the road?
To show the armadillo that it can be done.
Unfortunately for the armadillos, most of those we see are dead on the side of the road. If you observe an armadillo foraging, you can see why. Armadillos are intently focusing on what little insect it might find to eat. Looking down at the ground instead of up at the traffic translates to bad bad news for the little armadillo.
There are plenty of them around, though, and as a species they are quite successful. In fact, armadillo's range has been expanding for the past 150 years. in 1850, armadillos were not found north of the Rio Grande river. Now, their range includes the entire southeast, and its range expands every year. Their range, ultimately, will be limited by average temperatures. They don't carry much fat for insulation, so they can't handle cold winters.
Some dillo facts:
An unusual and prehistoric looking mammal, armadillos are related to sloths and anteaters. Here in the southeast, we have nine-banded armadillos.
Armadillos can swim, and they can hold their breath for up to six minutes. Sometimes instead of swimming they simply walk on the bottom to cross a creek underwater.
They almost always have four babies in a litter. The babies are so cute!
When startled, they can jump 4 to 5 feet up.
Armadillos are not dangerous, but they have been linked to leprosy, so it's best not to handle them with your bare hands.
