While doing some sundown birding with a gang of pals last month on Cape Canaveral National Seashore, I got to enjoy the single-minded foraging routine of this nine-banded armadillo. It's been years since I've seen an armadillo so I made a point of watching this one as long as it would let me.
According to scientists, climate change is going to mean we'll have armadillos in Ohio. They've apparently made it into western Kentucky already. Our winters are too harsh for these hard-to-categorize creatures because they do not carry enough body fat to survive long-term cold (and those shells CAN'T be too warm).
This 'dillo was snuffling along the edge of the parking lot, poking into the shore dune scrub, no doubt seeking insects, ants, grubs or something else tasty to eat.
Armadillo, by the way, means little armored one in Spanish. I considered it buena suerte that I got to see this l'il dillo doing its thing.
Looks like a bug...
ReplyDeleteI remember visiting a friend in Texas and seeing them as road kill all over the place. I was fascinated by them, though there, it was like opossums are here for us. Cool dillo photos!
ReplyDeleteOh, you are so lucky. I've never seen one in the wild.
ReplyDeleteHA! Yes, a bug :o)
ReplyDeleteThey are just so very odd. I hope to be able to see one for myself someday. Thanks for the treat.
ReplyDeleteprehistoric, they remind me of horseshoe crabs
ReplyDeleteThe instant I saw your first dillo pic, the opening strains of "Rock the Casbah" came into my head!
ReplyDelete