From Indiana to Michigan? Armadillos on the Move

Armadillos have made their way to Indiana and continue to move north. Could Michigan be the next home for a population of armadillos?

On a trip to Florida earlier this year, I saw my first armadillo walking some trails in a park. I was more surprised to learn that armadillos have made their way to most of Indiana.

The Armadillo

Armadillos are small to medium-sized mammals resembling possums in size. They have a distinctive bony, armor-like shell, with a long, pointed snout, small eyes, and short legs with strong claws for digging.

Armadillos primarily eat insects such as ants and beetles, but they also consume berries and ground-laid eggs. Armadillos do have predators, including bears, bobcats, cougars, coyotes, large hawks, and wolves.

Read More: Michigan Record Catfish Caught by Bowfisherman

Armadillos are primarily found in the southeastern and south-central United States, but their range extends as far north as the southern parts of Ohio to Nebraska. They are most common in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Florida, but their range is expanding.

Armadillos Are In Indiana, Michigan Could Be Next

Indiana and Ohio border Michigan, and both have armadillos. If temperatures continue to rise, it's only a matter of time before a small population moves into the southern part of the state. There has already been an armadillo sighting 5 miles from the Michigan border.

A recent thread on the Michigan Reddit page focused on armadillos in Indiana migrating north toward Michigan. Here are some of the comments.

I felt the same way upon hearing that armadillos are now found in Indiana.

This is similar to how sightings of cougars began in Michigan: a few reports, then finally someone catches a good photo of one years later on a trail camera. I suspect it won't be long before a hunter in southeast Michigan captures an armadillo on a trail camera.

There are a lot of mixed emotions in the Reddit posts, which you can check out here.

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If you happen to see an armadillo, do not pick it up; they are the only known animal that carries leprosy (Hansen's disease).

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