The Golden Isles are particularly to their liking because of the
plentiful ideal habitat for these burrow-dwelling bug-diggers. The soft
coastal earth and ample cover of sea grasses and shrubs gives the
armadillos plenty of easy options for digging their deep hidey-holes
and safely foraging for food. The territory in the Golden Isles is so
armadillo-friendly that many forgo burrows altogether and create
above-ground nests under saw-palmetto plants.
Not everyone here is crazy about their presence, particularly
gardeners and those who prize a lush, spotless lawn. Quite bold around
people, armadillos will blithely dig up a garden or yard in search of
dinner, or will sometimes burrow beneath houses. While some folks enjoy
their company enough to put up with a few holes in the yard, others
employ mothballs or other commercially available armadillo repellants
(who knew!) to offend the creatures’ delicate sense of smell.
Here are a few more fun facts about the armadillo:
- The species found in Georgia, and the only one found in the United States, is the Nine-banded armadillo.
- Unlike its relative the Three-banded armadillo, the Nine-banded
cannot roll up into a ball. When it’s alarmed, it will sometimes jump
straight up into the air, which makes it particularly vulnerable to
being hit by cars.
- The protective shell of an armadillo is called a “carapace.” It’s
made of bone, is attached to the skin, and is made up of overlapping
plates called “scutes.”
- Armadillos are generally solitary, but will tolerate roommates of
the same sex in their burrows, and occasionally even share their digs
with other animals.
- There’s a species of armadillo that lives in South America that weighs up to 130 pounds!
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