Tanner, the English setter is always fascinated by wildlife, either in the trees or under the ground
I saw my first nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) today in my yard. Well, not exactly my first, I use to have scads of them when I lived in Orlando and the nightly dog walks gave me plenty to view with the flashlight. Sadly, no photo of the new resident, so I’m using a photo of the predator. 
While armadillos are not native to Florida, I knew some were around here as there are plenty of telltale signs in the form of tunnel openings, but I had yet to see one “in the flesh”. As with a lot of wildlife, in searching for information, I found a great deal offering removal to keep the lawn looking nice (AGGHHHHH!). I also found that if you trap one, because of its non-native status, it is illegal in Florida for a homeowner to transport and release it. Gotta leave it to the professionals if you are so inclined.
I suspected something was making a home under the Rubbermaid deck box out by the well pump. Then, last evening when I took Tanner, the English setter out for his last trip, he started pulling and jumping and spinning in the air focused on the area near the deck box. Not easy for a 10-year old couch potato. I managed to haul him back inside and suspected a rabbit, which often shoot past our path at night, thus the “dog on the leash after dark” regiment.
Just at dawn when it was light enough, I let Tanner out on his own without a lead since I could now see to keep an eye on him. I groped around for a coffee mug and poured some nice, hot, fresh-perked and vegetated on the couch while watching the news. Halfway through my coffee, I heard barking…constant barking. While most everyone in this neighborhood is an early riser, I don’t like my dogs barking at length, so I peered out the kitchen door and that’s when I saw Tanner at the deck box. Barking, digging, obviously after something.
He was halfway under the deck box and having no other option, I grabbed him by the tail and hauled him out since he was so frenzied that he didn’t hear a word I said. Once I had his head out, he sat and allowed me to put the lead on to return him, full of mud, to the kitchen.
The sedges and Spanish needles had grown up around the storage box providing a nice area to hide. The cutting line in the weedwacker ran out a while back and I was too lazy to deal with winding new line on the existing spool. My solution was to try to get close with the mower but, needless to say, not very effective to maintain tidiness. I headed out after breakfast to tend to my chore.
“Procrastination is the thief of time” Edward Young (1683-1765)
Well, the noise of the weedwacker stirred up Tanner’s friend. I heard scratching coming from what I thought was inside the box, so I carefully opened it but there was nothing other than a spider. With that, out from under the box came the largest armadillo I’ve ever seen. He was so huge that as he ran toward the backyard he got hung-up at the fence because he was too fat to squeeze through. I tried to take a photo, but as I turned on the camera, he finally found a bigger gap, and raced into the brambles of the backyard. I never realized that armadillos were so quick, I also didn’t realize they could weigh as much as 17 pounds.
I levered up the deckbox and saw a HUGE burrow. It is far enough back that I doubt Tanner could ever reach in to actually touch the Armadillo
At any rate, I finished up what I was doing and got the dogs out and about. Tanner immediately headed back to his digging area which I stood guard over, telling him his friend had moved. All the weedwacking filled in the tunnel entrance with grass clippings. After some playtime, the dogs and I headed back in the house for some much-needed rest.
A while later I went out in the yard sans dogs. I walked over to the deck box and, lo and behold, there was a freshly dug tunnel, back under the box. Apparently Mr. (Mrs.?) Armadillo likes their home in the dog area and returned when the danger had passed. Now, mind you, I have a half-acre of dog-free area to provide for the wildlife with some semblance of safety. How dumb are these critters that they chose the dogs’ domain?
the armadillo returned in short order digging out his entry hole again. He is not about to move
It may be that the armadillo views it as prime habitat since the woodpile is adjacent and some of the favorite foods of this species are beetles, insect larvae, such as grubs and other invertebrates. I’m sure the woodpile is a smorgasbord in that area. They also eat beautyberry and my two beautyberry shrubs really are coming into their own this year.
Predators include humans, dogs, bobcats, coyotes, black bears, panthers, and foxes. I’m not sure Tanner is a match for this fatty and as I view the predator list, I wonder when the bobcats, foxes and panthers are going to show up. They have been observed in the neighborhood over at the Wildlife Management Area.
Apparently armadillo meat is a delicacy, but I’m not ready to cook this guy, although I think I saw Tanner with a skillet and his bowl.
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About Loret T. Setters
Nine-banded armadillos are very, very common here in the piney woods of east Texas. In fact I have had two encounters with one in my backyard this week. . .well, my dogs had the encounters. I just recently told the story in my blog,
Ann recently posted..What Happens at 5:00 a.m. in the Jardin Encantado
Loved you story Ann! Your doggies are adorable and very well behaved if they didn’t follow Mr Dillo (I LOVE THAT!!! HA!) into the pond, although my English doesn’t bother with the pond, my Irish Setter would be in there in a New York Minute. Armadillos are excellent swimmers or they also hold their breath and walk across the bottom. Interesting critters, to say the least.
You got to see yours jump straight up in the air? I heard they did that, but I apparently had a lazy one who stuck to the ground.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing you and your doggie’s adventure!
Loret T. Setters recently posted..New Garden Visitor?
Managing dogs and a wildlife garden is always so fun isn’t it? Currently my hounds think chasing the hummingbirds is great sport. Fortunately, there have been no sad mishaps here. Maybe you should move the rubbermaid bench into the protected part of your wildlife garden, LOL. Your Armadillo seems to enjoy the protection it provides
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Wildlife Gardeners Spin the Cycle of Life
You said it Carole!
chasing hummingbirds? wow, they must be quick doggies!
I thought about moving the box, but then my lazy genes kicked in as I would have had to empty it, and struggle to get it moved, empty it is light, but cumbersome. And after giving it more thought, it won’t fit through the gate so I’m glad I didn’t follow through. Sometimes procrastination works in my favor
Loret T. Setters recently posted..She’s Eating the Babies!
Great wildlife share, Loret. I hope the Dillos stay around for awhile in that nice protected spot, so they can show you their jumping skills. I had a 2nd visit from my washer frog.. actually a different one.. but this time I figured out how they are getting in there, HAH!
Kathy @nativegardener recently posted..Where To Go To See Native Plants in California?
oh I’m glad your “clean” hopper returned! I would like to see a dillo jump!
Loret recently posted..Wainin’ Wabbits?
Many times I am thankful I have no pets so I don’t have to manage both wildlife and the pet. But they are cue even if they are not native…although what a pain that you can’t relocate them…but I see their point. I find wildlife does not always make the best choices in homes.
Donna Donabella recently posted..A Bloom Day Anniversary
Hi Donna!
I’ll stick to my live and let live policy and hope for the best. If they really become a problem I’ll add them to the trapper’s list of things to deal with (so far, list has rats and venomous snakes— relocation of the snakes and I don’t care what he does with the rats hehe). He had an armillo on the truck about two months ago and I politely declined the offer of adoption since I knew that I already had my very own! He was joking of course!
Loret recently posted..Wainin’ Wabbits?
I disagree with the FWC that armadillos are ‘difficult to capture with live traps.’ We’ve captured at least three dozen over the past several years with a Hava Heart trap that we reinforced because those critters are STRONG when they get some size on them.
We do dispose of them in a humane fashion, not release them to roam over the neighbors’ property. Nobody wants the smelly, possibly carriers of Hansen’s Disease.
They will tunnel under your house next.
Nell Jean recently posted..September’s Blooms seem Different
Hi Nell,
I read some that they are able to get out of a lot of traps, which I guess is why FWC says they are hard to trap.
I live in a mobile, so I don’t have to worry about them causing havoc with a house foundation through tunneling. They seem content with the areas away from the house, although with 4 babies born at a shot, I may keep gaining more and more friends. I’m counting on the local bobcats to come help me out, my neighbor reports seeing said “kitties” up the road when they head to work at the crack of dawn.
Loret recently posted..Wainin’ Wabbits?