There are a number of animals that feel very exotic to me, here in Northern Illinois: platypuses, lions, capybara, and armadillos. At least one of those may not be so exotic for much longer.
Nine-banded armadillos are mammals that are closely related to sloths and anteaters. The name “armadillo” came from early Spanish settlers and means “little armored ones”, in reference to the armoring on their backs. This armor is made of small bones embedded in the skin, called scutes, which are covered in keratin. Unlike turtle shells, which are also made of scutes, armadillo armor is held together with collagen fibers, allowing it to flex with the armadillo’s body. While popular media would have you believe armadillos roll up into a ball for protection, this is only true of a few species, and not the nine-banded.
Armadillos have poor eyesight, but a keen sense of smell. They use their long claws to dig for food, which consists mainly of insects like grubs. They are also good swimmers. They can hold their breath for up to six minutes, walking along the bottom of the body of water, or swallowing air to increase their buoyancy. Armadillo moms give birth to identical quadruplets that are born with soft, leathery skin that hardens in a few weeks.
Northward bound
Armadillos were first spotted in southern Illinois in 1979. Since then, they have been steadily moving northward and now are known to occupy the southern half of the state. Since they have little hair and depend on insects for food, they cannot survive for long in temperatures below 28°F. As the climate shifts to warmer and less severe winters, their range could be moving further north, however.
How you can help
The Illinois Department of Agriculture is looking for help spotting them! If you see one in the northern half of Illinois, you are asked to report it here (see link for included counties). If it’s safe to do so, take a photograph to submit, as well.
Do not handle armadillos or soil that may be contaminated with their feces. While rare, armadillos have a body temperature that is low enough for them to host the leprosy bacterium. According to the Missouri Poison Center, there are only about 150-250 cases of leprosy in the US. While most of these cases originated from outside of the country, a few have been from contact with armadillos.
References
Missouri Poison Center: https://missouripoisoncenter.org/armadillo-the-little-armored-one/
Wildlife in Illinois: https://wildlifeillinois.org/identify-wildlife/armadillo/
Illinois Department of Natural Resources: https://dnr.illinois.gov/education/wildaboutpages/wildaboutwildmammals/wawmninebandedarmadillo.html
About the author: Jamie Viebach is the University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving DuPage, Kane, and Kendall counties. Viebach’s primary areas of expertise are native plants, landscaping, pollinators, and rain gardens.