Armadillos

ARMADILLO

A nine-banded armadillo

 

Armadillos are fairly common in West Tennessee. They are seen most often on the side of  the road after a visit with a car. We are lucky enough to have an armadillo in our back field. We decided to name it Alvin. The armadillo`s diet includes earthworms, snails, and spiders. They have sharp claws used for digging, and a long tongue for eating insects. Armadillos have very small teeth in the front of their mouth, so they cannot bite you. Even so, do not get close to one, for they can carry leprosy. The armadillo`s shell is made up of many small plates of bony armor fitted together. This is their best protection. If an armadillo is scared and far away from its burrow, it will try to dig another burrow to get away from danger. The nine-banded armadillo can be 2 feet long and weigh up to 15 pounds. The nine-banded armadillo is only armadillo in the United States. When the nine-banded armadillo gives birth, it usually has four babies, either all boys or all girls.

An armadillo digging

                                                                 

                                                                          Enjoy!

                                                                         -T&C