As it turns out, there is quite a bit to know about armadillos if you happen to be in the armadillo knowledge game. I feel a bit badly admitting this, but given the nature of these critters, I really didn’t think there was a whole lot to know about them. Evidently, I was entirely incorrect, but that’s okay; if anything, I’m delighted to learn more about these quirky little creatures and all of their intricacies.
That being said, let us continue our discussion of all things armadillo, shall we? Again, this information comes from livescience.com.
“Most armadillos stick to areas closer to the equator because they like temperate to warm areas due to their lack of fat stores. According to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management, armadillos are very picky about where they live based on what type of soil is found in the area. Usually, armadillos prefer sandy or loam soils that are loose and porous. This makes digging for food and creating burrows easier.
“All armadillos live in Central and South America, except for one species. The nine-banded armadillo ranges from Argentina to the southern United States, according to the Animal Diversity Web (ADW) at the University of Michigan. Since the mid-19th century, nine-banded armadillos have expanded northward. They have been seen in Florida and are now common in Missouri. In 2000, the body of a nine-banded armadillo was found in central Illinois, according to ADW.
“Armadillos are not social creatures and spend most of their time sleeping. They usually sleep up to 16 hours each day in burrows, according to National Geographic. During the morning and evenings, they forage for food.
“Usually, the only time armadillos get together is to mate or to keep warm. During cold times, a group of armadillos may hunker down in a burrow together to share body heat. Sometimes, a seven-banded armadillo will share its burrow with others of the same gender, though,” the web page explains.
I do recommend checking out the webpage linked above to read even more information about armadillos, if you’re interested.
Photo by Suzanne D. Williams on Unsplash
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