![]() Sure enough! The Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), a unique mammal native to Central and South America, first appeared in North Carolina in the late 2000s and has been seen more frequently in the region over the past few years. Larson (Cooperative Extension Division, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Nebraska-Lincoln, United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Animal Damage Control, Great Plains Agricultural Council Wildlife Committee).Nine-banded Armadillo, photographed by Leppyone, licensed under CC BY 2.0. The above information was adapted from PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF WILDLIFE DAMAGE with permission of the editors, Scott E. They may pose a potential risk for humans, particularly in the Gulf Coast region, but no cases have been reported.Īrmadillos are unprotected in most states.įences or barriers are generally not practical, but a possible option.Ĭlear brush and other cover to reduce habitat. Armadillos can be infected by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, which causes leprosy. This loss can be prevented through proper housing or fencing of nesting birds.ĭisease is a factor associated with this species. There is evidence that armadillos may be responsible for the loss of domestic poultry eggs. They may also burrow under foundations, driveways and other structures and rub their shells against houses or other structures. They also uproot flowers and other ornamental plants. Characteristic signs of armadillo activity are shallow holes, 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 cm) deep and 3 to 5 inches (7.6 to 12.7 cm) wide, when they dig for food. Most armadillo damage occurs as a result of their rooting in lawns, golf courses, vegetable gardens and flower beds. It's a good swimmer and able to walk across the bottom of small streams. In spite of its cumbersome appearance, it's agile and can run well when in danger. The armadillo has poor eyesight, but a keen sense of smell. The young are identical since they are derived from a single egg. The litter always consists of quadruplets of the same sex. The female produces only one litter each year in March or April after a 150-day gestation period. The young are born in a nest within the burrow. Armadillos often have several dens in an area to use for escape. Burrows are located in rock piles, around stumps, brush piles, or terraces around brush or dense woodlands. The armadillo usually digs a burrow 7 or 8 inches (18 or 20 cm) in diameter and up to 15 feet (4.5 m) in length for shelter and raising young. In winter it may be active only during the day. The armadillo is active primarily from twilight through early morning hours in the summer. It prefers sandy or loam soils that are loose and porous, b will also inhabit areas having cracks, crevices, and rocks that are suitable for burrows. The armadillo prefers dense, shady cover such as brush, woodlands, forests and areas adjacent to creeks and rivers. The range also includes southern Alabama, Georgia and most of Florida. The armadillo ranges from south Texas to the southeastern tip of New Mexico, through Oklahoma, the southeastern corner of Kansas and the southwestern corner of Missouri, most of Arkansas and southwestern Mississippi. The armadillo is about the size of an opossum, weighing from 8 to 17 pounds (3.5 to 8 kg). Its track is usually three-toed and shows sharp claw marks. The long tapering tail is encased in 12 bony rings. It has peglike cheek teeth that range in number from seven to nine on each side of the upper and lower jaw. The head is small with a long, narrow, piglike snout. This bony armor has nine movable rings between the shoulder and hip shield. The armadillo ( Dasypus novemcinctus) has a protective armor of “horny” material on its head, body and tail. ![]()
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