Nine Banded Armadillo

Yesterday, while surveying some work being done in the BackWoods Forest Preserve I came across four baby Nine Banded Armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus). I've seen this bunch before and they can be found foraging in the early morning and late afternoon near one of our sheds. Yesterday we located their den and flagged the area so they would not be disturbed by a large machine that was mechanically removing underbrush in the area.

It's a good thing they have armor, because stealth, good eyesight and excellent hearing are not in their playbook. Several of the babies tried rooting around under my shoes and seemed largely oblivious to my presence so I decided to take the opportunity for a few photographs and a post for our readers.

Non-Native Status

There were not always Nine Banded Armadillos in Florida. This species was introduced to Florida by populations that spread east from Texas and also animals released into the wild along the Atlantic coast. Eventually these populations merged and this small mammal can now be found north into Missouri and South Carolina and south throughout most of Florida with the exception of the Florida Keys and portions of the Everglades. 

Fascinating Critters

The Nine Banded Armadillo does have some neat facets.

• The live on a diet of mostly insects and invertebrates, but also some plants like Beauty Berry.
• Female Armadillo give birth to four young almost every time. These young are identical clones that all come from the same egg cell.
• Armadillo females can delay implantation of their fertilized eggs for about 4 months which means they can avoid becoming pregnant during cold or bad seasons.
• Nine Banded Armadillos can't roll into an actual ball, but they can tuck in pretty well.
• Although nocturnal in their original range, Nine Banded Armadillos have become more day wandering in their non-native range, which may relate to a lack of predators that cause them danger.
• The extinct Dasypus bellus, known as the 'Beautiful Armadillo' is a species of armadillo that once ranged throughout much of what Nine Banded Armadillos now call home in the United States. Remains of this species have been found in dig sites dated to 40,000 and 11,500 years old. 
• Nine Banded Armadillos swim pretty well.
• The Aztec name for Armadillos is Azotochtli which translates to "rabbit turtle". Pretty fitting, when you think about those ears, the jumping ability and the tough carapace all in one creature.

Armadillos and Hansen's Disease

Hansen's Disease, also known as Leprosy, is a long lasting bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. The disease is transmitted by direct contact with infected persons and animals and it can cause a wide range of pretty dreadful problems. 

Thankfully, Hansen's Disease is now both rare and easily treatable in modern times. Armadillos throughout Mexico and the deep South have been found to occasionally be carriers of Leprosy. About 0.5% to 10% of the wild population in this area has been found to be carriers of Hansen's Disease. On the positive side, information provided by University of Florida IFAS Extension states that of the 2,500 armadillos examined in the state of Florida thus far, none have been found to carry Hansen's Disease.

Armadillos are used in medical science to help doctors and researchers better understand the spread and development of Leprosy.