Forest Hill Drive is closed.

Armadillos Living Within the Forest

By Cody Ferguson

The Natural Areas Team at Bernheim Forest diligently operates a series of wildlife cameras throughout our 16,000+ acres of habitat to monitor wildlife and keep an eye out for more inconspicuous species. Last year, we confirmed our 51st mammalian species within the forest: the nine-banded armadillo. While the specific individual found last year was deceased, as have been the majority of sightings in the area over the past several decades, the Natural Areas Team has begun to capture photos of armadillos living deep within the interior of Bernheim.

The nine-banded armadillo’s range expansion further into North America is a phenomenon biologists have been observing for many years. Climate change is likely the leading cause of its range expansion. The armadillo is not well insulated with fat and does not hibernate, and as such, does not tolerate long, harsh winters. Solitary and nocturnal, the nine-banded armadillo roots around in forest debris and leaf litter in search of insects to consume, an endeavor made incredibly challenging as winter comes around and its food source becomes inactive. As winters become milder and milder, the armadillo’s habitat and dietary needs are able to be met further north and east.

Armadillo on wildlife camera

The secret to the armadillo’s success in surviving its new environments lies in its high reproductive capacity. The nine-banded armadillo produces quadruplets after a season of mating. After just one year, the four pups grow to reach maturity. They then will reproduce every year for the rest of their lives, which can be up to fifteen years. Natural predation keeps the population under control, though the armadillo is not the most palatable meal. When it is preyed upon, however, the predators here at Bernheim are likely coyotes, bobcats, and raptors. Anthropological causes of mortality also clearly exist here in our area, namely motor vehicle collisions on highways.

To keep safe during the day while sleeping, the nine-banded armadillo will either dig a large burrow (roughly 7 feet deep and 25 feet long) or take up residence in existing burrows, sinkholes, or cavities in the ground. The burrows it creates, when abandoned, offer a space for many animals, including raccoons, snakes, rodents, and insects.

Armadillo on wildlife camera

Given its rooting and digging habits, the nine-banded armadillo is labeled by some as a “nuisance” species, not unlike beavers and coyotes. While the method for maintaining its diet causes some topical disturbance in the form of slightly damaged roots, scraped duff layers on the forest floor, and picked-apart decaying wood, there is little evidence or literature to support the claim that the armadillo is a nuisance threat to our ecosystem.

Bernheim’s Natural Areas Team and researchers will continue to closely monitor our newest recorded mammal population and activity within the forest. The specific sites where the armadillos have been observed will also be monitored. This is undoubtedly a unique opportunity for the team to observe the armadillos’ effects on their surroundings and to get acquainted with the armored animal.

Our Newsletter

Sign up for the Bernheim Buzz

Get the "buzz" of Bernheim activity weekly in your inbox by signing up below.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.