My mom and I were returning from a trip to Panama City Beach, Florida, last spring when we arrived in Tennessee and saw an abnormally high number of armadillos. When we arrived at the Western Kentucky Parkway, I had never seen so many of those creatures on the sides of the road. I didn’t realize there were armadillos in our area till then.
Armadillo at Ben Hawes Golf Course in Daviess County
Wayne Hart posted a photo of an armadillo he saw near Ben Hawes Golf Course in Daviess County on Facebook just this week. They have only come here in the last 20 years, as he points out. However, why?
Armadillos in the United States
The only species found in the United States is the nine-banded armadillo. The armadillo, which translates to “little armored one” in Spanish, can actually have seven to eleven plates covering the upper half of its body. Fun fact: only three-banded armadillos are capable of curling up into a ball and rolling away, as we frequently see in cartoons.
Where Do Armadillos Live?
The National Wildlife Federation states that although nine-banded armadillos are native to the southeast of the United States, their range has been steadily growing northward for over a century. Some have even been seen as far north as Nebraska and Illinois. The entire range of armadillos has not yet been explored, however one study suggested that they might extend as far north as Massachusetts.
Climate Change and Land Development Harm Habitats
Climate change, increased atmospheric carbon, and habitat loss from land expansion are the main causes of this. These ideal habitats include humid, wet meadows, woods, and warm climates. Did you know that armadillos can swim well? They can even hold their breath for almost six minutes. As they navigate through little rivers and streams, I suppose they resemble tiny submarines.
Are There Really Armadillos in Kentucky?
Although it might appear that populations would decline given how frequently they are spotted by the side of the road, the contrary is actually true. According to a Kentucky Fish and Wildlife study, nine-banded armadillos first appeared in Kentucky in the middle of the 1980s. By the early 2000s, armadillos had spread to counties as far east as Land Between the Lakes, but the department only received sporadic sightings of them during the mid-1980s and 1990s.
In Kentucky, have you ever seen an armadillo? Tell me your story in a message!
