They are primarily nocturnal animals but when the weather is cold they may only be active during the heat of the day. Natural predators include bobcats, coyotes, and black bears; however, other causes of mortality include automobile collisions and some hunting by humans. As a means of defense when threatened, armadillos are capable of making an impressive 3—4 foot vertical leap into the air; unfortunately, this means they often leap into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
History: Aside from the 20 other species of armadillos in the world all of which can be found in South America , the nine-banded armadillo's closest living relatives are sloths and anteaters. The species originated in South America and remained confined to South America until the continents of North and South America were bridged together by the formation of the Isthmus of Panama approximately 2.
However, it was not until the early s that nine-banded armadillos managed to enter the United States from Mexico by crossing over the Rio Grande River into Texas; this crossing was likely facilitated by man-made bridges and roads.
Nine-banded armadillos first appeared in Florida in the s when they were introduced by humans. Their expansion will likely be limited because they do not fare well in cold or dry areas. Although not native to Florida, the species is widely regarded as naturalized and can now be found in every county.
Unique Breeding: Nine-banded armadillos and their relatives in the Dasypus genus are the only vertebrates in the world known to exhibit obligate polyembryony. Polyembryony is when two or more embryos develop from a single fertilized egg; in humans this produces identical twins.
Each fertilized egg will divide into quarters to produce four separate embryos; therefore nine-banded armadillos usually give birth to litters of four genetically identical young.
Armadillos are also particularly attracted to fermenting fruit. Remove fallen fruit to avoid attracting unwelcome wildlife. Harassing burrows causes animals to feel unsafe and can convince them to relocate on their own without additional intensive and sometimes expensive eradication efforts. It is lawful for a landowner to live-trap or humanely destroy nuisance armadillos, although they are difficult to capture with live traps.
All live-captured nuisance armadillos must be euthanized, released on-site, or released on a property within the same county of capture, that is 40 acres or larger with written permission from the landowner. However, relocating wildlife is seldom biologically sound and the animal often does not survive. Captured non-target species are required to be released on site. You can receive technical assistance for armadillo problems by contacting your nearest FWC regional office. Living with Armadillos.
Skip to main content. Report Issues Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc. Cold is their enemy because they have a low metabolic rate and no fat stores. These animals love to sleep up to 16 hours per day.
They are nocturnal, keeping cool underground during the day and foraging at night. Armadillos are omnivores and eat beetles, ants, termites, small vertebrates, plants, and some fruit. Their eyesight is very poor and they use their sense of smell to hunt. Armadillos are diggers that excavate land for food and dig burrows for shelter. They prefer to dig in areas with loose, porous soil, rich in insects and invertebrates.
Armadillos can carry the leprosy bacterium that causes leprosy in humans Mycobacterium leprae. More than one-third of U. We're on the ground in seven regions across the country, collaborating with 52 state and territory affiliates to reverse the crisis and ensure wildlife thrive.
Uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. Inspire a lifelong connection with wildlife and wild places through our children's publications, products, and activities. In 4 seconds , you will be redirected to nwfactionfund. The National Wildlife Federation. Nine-Banded Armadillo. Classification: Mammal. Description Approximately 20 species of armadillo exist, but the nine-banded is the only one found in the United States. Range Nine-banded armadillos are found in the southeastern United States, but their range has been expanding continually northward for more than a hundred years.
Diet These armadillos are generalist feeders and use their sense of smell to track down almost different foods, most of which are invertebrates such as beetles, cockroaches, wasps, yellow jackets, fire ants, scorpions, spiders, snails, and white grubs.
Life History Nine-banded armadillos almost always give birth to four identical quadruplets. Conservation Populations of nine-banded armadillos are increasing. Fun Fact Armadillos have long been a source of food for humans.
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