Mid-Missouri is seeing an increase in its population of armored inhabitants.
Armadillo sightings are becoming a normal occurrence for both residents and motorists north of the Missouri River.
Missouri Conservation Agent Bob Lyons says the river itself was assumed to be a roadblock in armadillos’ path to Mid-Missouri.
“They’ve moved up from the south and have progressively increased over the years,” Lyons said. “Everybody always thought that they’d never be able to cross over the Missouri River, but they certainly know how in some fashion.”
The opossum-sized mammals have been gradually moving north from Mexico over the last several hundred years, and are expanding farther north in Missouri thanks to recent warm winters.
Armadillos are known to frighten easily and jump up when startled by cars, which is why so many are killed along roadways such as highway 70.
University of Missouri Extension Wildlife Specialist Bob Pierce says the creatures could be here for the long haul.
“It doesn’t take that many animals to produce a viable population, and have young and survive here. So it might be that we learn to adapt with them and see them more often.”
Pierce also says that Armadillos don’t usually cause much economic damage when digging for food, but have been known to dig up gardens and pastures. He says the animals can only cause real damage when burrowing under foundations of homes.
A guide for armadillo prevention and control is available at http://extension.missouri.edu/p/g9456.