Armadillos, the strange looking armor-plated nocturnal mammals that arrived in Texas from Mexico in the 1800’s, stayed in the southern part of that state for over 100 years. Then in the mid-1900’s they found a way to cross the Mississippi River and spread east along the gulf coast to the Atlantic. Cold winters are thought to be a barrier to their northern movement, but they have been gradually moving north in the southeastern states. In 2005 an armadillo was found in Gainesville, about 50 miles north of Atlanta. They have even been found as far north as Illinois, Ontario and north of New York City. The fact that these were isolated instances so far north suggests that the animals did not walk up there but hitched a ride on a boat, truck or train going that way.

The northern migration has brought the armadillo to the southern part of metro Atlanta, but most people will not even know they are around. The first look at one will probably be as road kill. People traveling on the interstates south of the city may have already seen one on the side of the highway. The first thought is usually that it can’t be an armadillo here in Georgia, but it is. They are not the brightest animals around. Walter Reeves ranks them with the possum as two of the dumbest creatures on the planet. They have a habit of jumping straight up in the air when startled, which is not a good move while crossing a busy highway, since it places them right in front of the bumper of a fast moving car or truck.

Armadillos sleep during the day in burrows they dig using the long nails on each foot. They have no enemies since their armor plating keeps them safe from predators. At night they come out and forage for food. Their diet consists of worms, grubs, beetles, ants, termites and other insects that they dig for in the ground. The woods and forests here in Georgia provide a perfect habitat for these animals, with good soil for the burrows and soft, insect filled dirt in which to forage for food. They should be happy here.

The problem with armadillos comes when they discover a homeowner’s garden and the rich, moist soil filled with its favorite food. An armadillo can destroy a garden in no time. By the time you find the damage the vandal is asleep in its burrow. About the only way to get rid of a problem armadillo is to trap it and move it to an unpopulated area. Information about that is available online.

Armadillos live 12-15 years and a female will have one litter of four young each year. Since they have no enemies except cars and trucks, the population should expand pretty quickly. People we talked to in south Texas tell us that they are not a big problem and that about the only time they see one is on the side of the road. That is probably the way it will be here.

These animals are not that big, about 2-3 feet long including the tail, 6-10 inches tall, and weigh 10-20 pounds Armadillos showed up in Fayetteville, about 15 miles south of the airport this summer and have been seen along I-20 east of Atlanta for some years now. If you haven’t seen one yet, it shouldn’t be long.

Now if we could just get them to develop a taste for fire ants.

Cute photo and more info at http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/armadillo.html