The middle pond sticks under the fence so that the local deer can water. One armadillo was swimming under the fence to get in. As rocky as the ground is around here I can only imagine just how juicy all my dirt looks to an armadillo. Yeah, the digging is good in here.
I would think with all the catching and trapping and hauling off that there would be no more armadillos for a long ways around. I guess that I just don't know how fast they can breed. Armadillos have what is called a quadranted egg. It takes one sperm to fertilize it but then it splits into four eggs. They are all exact duplicates and are the same sex.
It's hard to get a picture of an armadillo. I have had poor luck doing it, especially with as many as I've had here. There has only been one posted on this blog and it was a back end shot as it was disappearing into the Greg's Mist Flowers. Well I've gotten lucky. Here is a picture of an armadillo, in all his destructive glory.
But wait, what's that moving in the brush? Not another one.
Who would believe, two armadillos in one picture. But wait, what the heck?
This is unreal, three armadillos in one picture after only getting one picture in the last ten years. Way cool. But wait. Oh my gosh, here comes another one. Now there is four of the destructive little bull dozers.
Even though they look to be mostly grown, I am sure it must be a litter that is sticking together longer then usual as I've seen much smaller armadillos rooting in the woods all by them selves. Even though I know I will have to be dealing with them eventually when they find the house, it was still nice to get to watch four armadillos rooting along through the woods along my driveway.
Great capture, Bob, even though I am frustrated by armadillo incursions in my garden too. Swimming in! I'd heard they are good swimmers, and that proves it.
ReplyDeleteWe found a litter of three mostly grown 'dillos in our back yard last year, and my daughter actually caught one of those with her hands. Crazy. I think I have one living under my deck at the moment.
Apparently I'm not a Texan as I still look at armadillos and say "Cool!" every time.
ReplyDeleteThe only time we've seen live ones, however, was out on the other side of the lake from your place.
Wow, Bob - those are great photos! We were here for a couple of years before we saw live armadillos - they'd dig around our deck and in the front beds but we never managed to catch them on film... seems like I should say "Lucky you" but then again...maybe you're not so lucky!
ReplyDeleteAnnie at the Transplantable Rose
Do you have any armadillo skulls Bob? I think they're cool looking. Nice info:) Cool pix.
ReplyDeleteI'd like an armadillo sculpture.
:)
Your sick Cheryl.
ReplyDeleteI need to get some of those Cheryl, they would look great set atop tiny Naboo spears.
ReplyDeleteSo great to get the whole dillo family Bob...I just read they have the ability to remain underwater for as long as six minutes!
Because of the density of its armor, an armadillo will sink in water unless it inflates its stomach and intestines with air, which often doubles its size and allows it to swim across narrow bodies of water. Pretty amazing technique!
ESP!
Would you call this an army if armadillos? Bob- I don't know if I told you but David and I were married here in Austin back in 1968( I had arrived just 5 days before. For our honeymoon, a friend lent us his car and we went to Hamilton Pool(which was private in those days) There running through the grass I saw my first armadillo. What a thrill for an English girl. Made the honeymoon!-no seriously, have not seen a live one since. Plenty of dead and lots of holes around the garden but not one in the flesh. Nice to see you today and meet Lynn.
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