An armadillo is an unusual-looking mammal, and one that most people would probably associate with southern states like Texas and Louisiana. A Purdue expert recently reported that we have armadillos in Indiana!
Brian McGowan, Purdue wildlife specialist, said that the nine-banded armadillo, a 10- to 15-pound mammal, has become an increasingly common sight in the Hoosier state, and it has been here for a while.
“The nine-banded armadillo was first discovered living in Indiana around 2003,” he said. “Since then they have been found throughout most of the state, even into the far northeast corner of Steuben County.” Although statewide residence is likely, there have been no confirmed sightings in Whitley County to date.
McGowan said that armadillos are known to establish themselves in woodland areas in search of ground insects, which are abundant in decaying wood. They are primarily nocturnal animals, and they make multiple burrows in the ground.
While armadillos are not known to be dangerous, there is a risk of humans or animals stepping into their open burrows. MacGowan compares this to similar risks posed by groundhog and ground squirrel burrows.
According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the nine-banded armadillo is the only armadillo species found in the United States. The animal is a powerful digger, and it uses its burrows to seek shelter from weather and predators.
Indiana DNR appeals to Indiana residents to report armadillos and other animals on their website: https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife-resources/animals/report-a-mammal/. Their watchlist includes: badger, black bear, bobcat, Franklin’s ground squirrel, gray fox, gray wolf, jumping mouse, mountain lion, nine-banded armadillo, pygmy shrew, smoky shrew, southern flying squirrel, star-nosed mole, thirteen-lined ground squirrel, weasel species, and western harvest mouse. Learn about each mammal and its current status in Indiana on the DNR website above. As I understand, some of these animals are currently in Indiana, some are occasionally seen in Indiana, and some were in Indiana at one time but are now absent.
Additionally, perhaps you’ve seen sick or dead wildlife that concerns you. Indiana DNR’s Sick or Dead Wildlife Reporting System collects information about wildlife that appear sick or appear to have died without an apparent cause. They ask that you do not report animals that have died of an apparent cause, such as predation, roadkill, or window collisions. Find this reporting portal at:
Find McGowan’s complete information in an article authored by Ericka Bethel at: