Driving down Missouri's roads, I often see an armadillo walking next to the road — or most often dead beside it.
I always thought that these unusual-looking mammals are known for digging up gardens for their underground burrows and frequently becoming roadkill were "not" normal for this part of the country.
With a bit of research I have found that they were originally found in Central and South America.
The nine-banded armadillo moved into Texas in the 1800s and its habitat has been expanding ever since.
The nine-banded armadillo, only species native to North America, is "now" considered common by the Missouri Department of Conservation, especially in areas south of the Missouri River.
The hard plates on the armadillo’s body and tail give the animal its name, which translates to “little armored one” in Spanish.
The size of a large house cat, armadillos are burrowing animals who catch insects and grubs with their tongues and swallow them whole. Armadillos can carry leprosy, so I understand you need to wear gloves when handling them, dead or alive.
While armadillos mate during the summer, they do not give birth until the following spring, so we may see more of the critters this time of year.
Climate change plays a part in being in Missouri. Historically, American armadillos have stayed in warm areas in the southeast, since they cannot tolerate the cold.
Since they do not hibernate, armadillos go into their burrows during the cold, where they can freeze or starve.
As winters get warmer in Missouri, these animals have ventured north.
My next thought was why do they get hit by cars so much.
It appears that in addition to poor hearing and sight, the Missouri Department of Conservation said armadillos ”have the unusual habit of jumping upright when frightened, which explains why so many are hit by automobiles.”
This practice is meant to scare off predators like coyotes and bobcats, but, unfortunately, it doesn’t work on cars.
Well, that is the story as I understand it.
Now I'm sure I find another topic that peeks my curiosity very soon.
Updates Later... 😂
Nana
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