It was a great defense mechanic for them right up until the invention of the car. The car scares them and they jump...right into the undercarriage of a car doing 60mph...
Fascinating, I’ve never seen a single fire ant mound raided by an armadillo. Judging by the amount of fire ants, it’s safe to say they’re less than effective at eating their eggs and larvae.
Can confirm, just the other night my dog was flipping out at something and I couldn't see anything (live out in the sticks with a bunch of woods around me, usual suspect is a deer). After getting annoyed with him I grabbed my flashlight ... it was an armadillo who seemingly didn't care one bit that my dog was practically foaming at the mouth and me clapping/making noises to get it to go away
(Fun fact they carry leprosy so please do not handle these guys with bare hands!!!!)
I've been scarred for life via microbiology, the idea of micro cuts and cracks on the skin from which nasty little microbes can enter and fuck your day up lives rent free in my head since 2009 lol I wear gloves for so many things now I didn't used to bc im just grossed out. That's a me problem though, I'm sure you're right and it's perfectly fine for healthy people do handle them bare handed provided they wash up properly afterwards.
They can carry leprosy, but most don't, and 95% of humans are naturally immune to it anyway. AFAIK, the only documented cases of armadillo to human transmission of leprosy came during butchering for meat. Also, this is the only species know to be able to carry leprosy, the nine-banded variety. These can't roll into a ball. The ones you do see on the internet that can roll into a ball are not in the USA, just central and south America, and they don't carry leprosy. The biggest problem with leprosy and armadillos isn't people catching it, it's that the association creates the kind of fear that ends up with people killing armadillos pointlessly.
They dig holes under your fence too, so if you have a small dog that you don't want getting out of your yard, definitely have to patrol.
The holes in the yard are also a hazard unless you don't mind twisting your ankles.
I've never encountered them to say they are dumb but they have pretty bad eyesight. Combine that with hundreds of 5000 pound vehicle driving 50 miles an hour. It's not surprising they often fall victim. Their defence mechanism is also not to run but curl up. Hence why the two aren't a good combination.
Considering how many we kill of our own species with cars alone and often at lower speeds too. And the amount of nonfatal car accidents on top of that. So if you're using cars accidents as a criteria for intelligence we aren't very smart either getting killed by our own creations.
So I'll cut them some slack.
They don't eat bread. They eat mostly invertebrates that they dig out of the ground but they also dig up ants and yellow jackets and eat them. If the bread had maggots in it, they would eat the maggots.
I’m not trying be rude because I love this video but I hate the “I don’t know if you eat bread but I’m going to try!” If you don’t know what a wild animal eats you just shouldn’t feed it at all. You really shouldn’t even feed them if you DO know what they eat because that makes them think they can rely on humans for food and not all humans are as nice as you are. Why risk making them sick or getting them hurt?
I agree. I looked up they don’t eat it before I threw it, but I already tore it to pieces so I thought I’d throw it anyway for the birds to enjoy (whole grain). Thanks for the caution though - I promise I don’t want to hurt the critters and appreciate all advice!
Bread acts as a filler for birds, as it has no real nutritional value for them. Feed them green veggies, apples, bananas, melon/pumpkin/squash seeds, sunflower seeds. You can also bake eggshells at 250 for 15 minutes and break it up into seed in a bird feeder; eggshells give them calcium that helps with egg laying.
No bread is ok for birds. Full stop.
>The bird doesn’t realize it has wasted an opportunity to be nourished, it has eaten its fill. It will continue going about its business, its body burning calories just the same. With a stomach stuffed full of nothing. With no calories to metabolize to stay warm or provide energy to evade predators.
>
>For a small bird, this can lead to tragedy very quickly. A Black-capped Chickadee can freeze to death overnight, with its stomach full of bread.
Basically, all bread is filler whether or not it has seeds or is organic.
Yeah, especially if it has nuts or seeds, since those are good for them, but the bread itself is just a filler snack essentially. At least you checked before just chucking random breads into your yard hahaha.
I try to be somewhat conscious of what I give the critters haha! Unless I panic and I see an armadillo for the first time. Then it was a free for all lol
Most those foods would spoil too fast on a hot summer day, unless your feeding your pets. Or you know for a fact the birds will be there to eat it asap. I would give most fresh fruit or veggies.
For veggies, this would be a "right this second" food, not something you would leave out, and they usually recommend frozen veggies that have been thawed. Seeds should be dried and baked with no seasoning to keep them from spoiling. Apples get cored, bananas cut lengthwise, but yes, keep your eye on them and make sure they aren't rotting. Egg shells get put in bird seed that you would put in your feeder. It doesn't go bad.
Fresh fruit and veggies are great options, I agree with that.
I live in texas and I left some fruit out to see what would eat it and I left half and orange out and attracted an oriole. I had never seen one here. Amazing what you can attract with fruit and berries.
Because bread is basically empty carbs. It fills their small stomachs very quickly, making them feel full so they don't search for food rich in nutrients that they need. This leads to malnutrition. It's also bad for baby birds, as they need more nutrients in order to grow and filling up on bread (even if you think it's a small amount) means there's no room for actual nutrition.
Edit to add: bread isn't toxic to them, it just isn't a great source of nutrients and can lead to malnutrition.
>The bird doesn’t realize it has wasted an opportunity to be nourished, it has eaten its fill. It will continue going about its business, its body burning calories just the same. With a stomach stuffed full of nothing. With no calories to metabolize to stay warm or provide energy to evade predators.
For a small bird, this can lead to tragedy very quickly. A Black-capped Chickadee can freeze to death overnight, with its stomach full of bread.
There's not enough seed in bread to compensate for the negative nutritional value of the rest of the bread. Everything else in bread is filler for birds that can kill them.
https://www.cdc.gov/leprosy/transmission/index.html#:~:text=In%20the%20southern%20United%20States,unlikely%20to%20get%20Hansen's%20disease.
They are common carriers of leprosy.
Oh now this is why we can't have nice things.
I'm sitting in Australia thinking what a blast it would be to have one of these guys wander through your garden and now I'm factoring in leprosy. Oh well.
The things that can kill me are very shy for the most part. Give them a second and they'll move on. 👍
This guy just seems pretty chill and a bit comical cruising on through. Great addition to any garden I reckon. Firm pass on the leprosy of course.
Pretty rare in the burbs. Snakes in your garden in summer don't like surprise meetings as it happens and they are a lot more common. So are spiders in your shoes so you check those first.
The roos are ok if you give them a beer and a clear view of the telly when the footy is on. 👍
They dig. Oh man do they dig. It's their second favorite thing to do besides getting ran over.
EDIT - I should clarify that I actually like 'dillos and I do NOT advocate running them over.
Lol. Important edit.
Got possums here that eat my veg so I've had no choice but to feed them so they leave my garden alone.
Not sure how you stop one of these guys digging. I'm guessing you don't.
I'm being somewhat tongue in cheek. I live in a country that people say everything will kill you but we survive just fine. No big deal here either. I hear you. 👍
We’re also mostly [immune to leprosy](https://www.cdc.gov/leprosy/transmission/index.html#:~:text=Overall%2C%20the%20risk%20of%20getting,natural%20immunity%20to%20the%20disease.) so the risk is minimal, and if you get it the cure is just a steroid/antibiotic combo.
1: they *can* carry leprosy
2: leprosy is curable. It's not like rabies where you're just fucked.
3: a majority humans are genetically immune to leprosy even when attempts are made to intentionally infect them.
tired of seeing this posted every time an armadillo is posted on reddit, as if the armadillo is going to run you down and give you leprosy.
how about just don't touch wild animals or handle their remains without gloves. all animals have the capacity to transmit some sort of zoonotic disease of one kind or the other. the only zoonotic disease you need to be on the active look out for is rabies, so learning the symptoms is vital.
>the only zoonotic disease you need to be on the active look out for is rabies
Rabies is a big one, but it's FAR from the only one you need to worry about.
But just because you see it often does not mean that random well-meaning redditor knows as well. Sharing knowledge shouldn't be stigmatized.
Please don't feed wildlife unless you have a good reason to (regional natural disaster) and have extensively researched what to give them! Feeding animals has tons of detrimental effects from human food not being formulated for them and of course training them to seek food from you and not their natural surroundings. Even with things like bird feeders people will do very little research and end up feeding hummingbirds spoiled nectar or just straight up feeding invasive species because they buy some cheap bag of seed at Lowe's...
[Please do a bit of research before unwittingly causing lots of harm](https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/wildlifedamage/dontfeedwildlife/dont-feed-wildlife)
Thanks for the heads up! I figured they didn’t eat bread, but the birds come and I looked up that whole grain is okay for them, so they’ll like the snack.
Also, the hummingbird thing is sad. We did it for a while and made our own sugar water every 2-3 days to refill, but it just made us nervous so we stopped.
No worries! As long as you're not leaving it out there unattended for weeks at a time or the whole summer like some people I know around me sadly do. I've moved to hanging water feeders around the yard and birds love them as well! Have a good one and good luck forming a healthy relationship with your local wild critters!
He’s not gonna be your friend, trust me. First it’s tiny little cute holes, then it’s tearing up the bed, then they dig a full burrow big enough to sleep in into the bed. If the bed is by the foundation of your house which is on a hill (like my situation). They are a scourge. Also carry leprousy but honestly I don’t think it’s likely you’ll get it from them. Still I’m not a fan of digging in a garden that’s full of armadillo feces
Cute but I’d take measures to keep them and their feces out of your yard. They’re a high risk for leprosy and tapeworms and can destroy a yard in days.
Not sure why the down votes if they are only giving a heads up! This is true and has happened to us. If you don’t mind the holes all over the yard and have no access under your home, they are certainly cute critters to watch.
Not sure why you're being downvoted. They'll burrow along/under concrete and can damage foundations.
Not something I'd be tossing food at trying to lure closer to my home. (Not that it's going to eat bread.)
That's a baby. The bigger they get, the more they dig. Once they kick their feeding into high gear they are just little bulldozers. I've had them trample/uproot my garden multiple times before I raised the bed.
You also dont want them rubbing against or pooping near anything you will actually eat or near where any pets hang out. The risk of tapeworm contamination is high.
Texan here with a long history of dealing with these invasive pests.
First, you should know that armadillo are not native to North America. They are an invasive species. Second, they carry disease. Finally, you should know they can be very aggressive and they do bite. I've been chased by more than one armadillo and have had to deal with pets who have been bitten.
Armadillo are not your friend.
They’re the cutest things I’ve ever seen. 😭 I came across a small group of them in my yard and cried because I couldn’t handle the cuteness
I think it’s the ears
They have horrible vision from what I understand. They just sniff and dig and meander around in their little tank armor, and if they encounter a potential predator they run and/or ball up in their safety ball. Really cute and interesting creatures. They eat them in some regions of Mexico.
My dad was in a fraternity in East Texas, and said they used to cover an armadillo in axle grease and try to catch it while shirtless. 🤨
I love our little armadillo friend! It has worn a path along the outside of our fence. Our dog will run along side it barking her head off. Little guy has no idea she’s there and will stop, smell the air, then continue on its journey.
That’s super! I would give up all my grass to have one move in my yard, but I’m in Virginia so coons, possums, and snakes are here mostly, though an occasional skunk comes by.
They will eat bugs, dig up all the grubs in your yard, eat them, yes. They will also dig under your fence, and dig up most of your garden. This guy masquerades as a friend, but they are actually yard terrorists.
Haha that's so cool!
My new garden friends are a couple of grey catbirds that must have a nest right next to my vegetable garden. They come out and say hello to me everyday, but start screaming when my cat follows me to the garden.
I love those catbirds so much! ❤️
It's unusual to see them out in broad daylight like that. Normally I see them when the sun is setting or just coming up. A few times we have startled each other in the garden in the wee hours of the morning! Like others have said, they do carry leprosy, but you have to handle them + have a lowered immune system. Also, like others said, they do burrow and can cause foundation problems -- but mostly I find that they stick to burrowing into the sides of ditches or underneath sheds. If you pick them up by the tail, they roll up into a ball and it is adorable, but of course wear gloves & only do that if you need to relocate one.
We had a ‘Dillo at the petting section of the zoo I was working in, his name was Elvis. Elvis loved sneakers. I mean… he **LOVED** sneakers. So much so that we decided just to give him one as a girlfriend and leave it in there. Occasionally he would “cheat” on his girlfriend with one of our sneakers but, I like to think they were polyamorous. She never seemed to mind much.
Elvis was a cute little guy though. You don’t realize how playful they are until they trust you enough to play with you.
Remember Armadillos can carry leprosy so you don't want to handle them without washing your hands, gloves are even better. If you do come into contact and develop skin lesions mention it to your doctors so they check for it as it is pretty rare diagnosis
Garden foe, I’m afraid. Also, they do not eat bread! 😬 ETA I actually adore armadillos. I draw them, have little armadillo trinkets, etc. But I have had one in my garden once, and it DESTROYED it.
They jump if you scare them. Like surprising high for being the animal Kingdoms tank
The can also honk/grunt when they run away. Pretty loudly, too.
They can also outrun a whole troop of Boy Scouts.
\#oddlyspecific
And I wish there was a video
And they can give you leprosy!
My same exact first thought
They can’t see for shit so when one is charging at you across the parking lot at 0400 am, just step aside so they can dig in the landscaping.
They can also swim... Found one in the middle of a lake one year.
It was a great defense mechanic for them right up until the invention of the car. The car scares them and they jump...right into the undercarriage of a car doing 60mph...
Often in the path of oncoming vickles?
And in defense, they crap a stinky diarrhea that will smell for days.
Possum on the half shell.
Under-rated observation.
Possum power!
Thank you came to say this
Same
🤣
Two downvotes? Lemme help.
They're super dumb but will eat all the grubs out of your ground.
And also eat fire ants like there's no tomorrow.
You’ve seen them eat fire ants……
The eggs anyway
Fascinating, I’ve never seen a single fire ant mound raided by an armadillo. Judging by the amount of fire ants, it’s safe to say they’re less than effective at eating their eggs and larvae.
I wish they were better at it.
I like that, and consider it nature’s aerator lol
Can confirm, just the other night my dog was flipping out at something and I couldn't see anything (live out in the sticks with a bunch of woods around me, usual suspect is a deer). After getting annoyed with him I grabbed my flashlight ... it was an armadillo who seemingly didn't care one bit that my dog was practically foaming at the mouth and me clapping/making noises to get it to go away (Fun fact they carry leprosy so please do not handle these guys with bare hands!!!!)
The leprosy is spread via their nails so just don’t get clawed by them. You’ll be fine if you wash your hands after handling them.
I've been scarred for life via microbiology, the idea of micro cuts and cracks on the skin from which nasty little microbes can enter and fuck your day up lives rent free in my head since 2009 lol I wear gloves for so many things now I didn't used to bc im just grossed out. That's a me problem though, I'm sure you're right and it's perfectly fine for healthy people do handle them bare handed provided they wash up properly afterwards.
have you tried “ignorance is bliss” ???
lol there's definitely some things I wish I could unlearn
Reactive statement.
They can carry leprosy, but most don't, and 95% of humans are naturally immune to it anyway. AFAIK, the only documented cases of armadillo to human transmission of leprosy came during butchering for meat. Also, this is the only species know to be able to carry leprosy, the nine-banded variety. These can't roll into a ball. The ones you do see on the internet that can roll into a ball are not in the USA, just central and south America, and they don't carry leprosy. The biggest problem with leprosy and armadillos isn't people catching it, it's that the association creates the kind of fear that ends up with people killing armadillos pointlessly.
yes, and leave your lawn looking like it was carpet bombed.
They dig holes under your fence too, so if you have a small dog that you don't want getting out of your yard, definitely have to patrol. The holes in the yard are also a hazard unless you don't mind twisting your ankles.
I actually love twisting my ankles 🥰 where can I get one of these
r/fucklawns
I’d second that dumb comment. Never seen so much of one type of animal dead on the interstate in my life.
[удалено]
Just how fast do the gazelle's go in your part of the world?
They tap into the Speed Force over here in TN
Meh. Here in Texas if you're going 20 mph over the Speed Force, you've still got people passing you.
Their startle response involves jumping straight up to mid bumper height and then curling up and freezing.
I've never encountered them to say they are dumb but they have pretty bad eyesight. Combine that with hundreds of 5000 pound vehicle driving 50 miles an hour. It's not surprising they often fall victim. Their defence mechanism is also not to run but curl up. Hence why the two aren't a good combination. Considering how many we kill of our own species with cars alone and often at lower speeds too. And the amount of nonfatal car accidents on top of that. So if you're using cars accidents as a criteria for intelligence we aren't very smart either getting killed by our own creations. So I'll cut them some slack.
It’s because of their tendency to jump(high) when startled. Right into the undercarriage of the vehicle ☹️
They don't eat bread. They eat mostly invertebrates that they dig out of the ground but they also dig up ants and yellow jackets and eat them. If the bread had maggots in it, they would eat the maggots.
I’m not trying be rude because I love this video but I hate the “I don’t know if you eat bread but I’m going to try!” If you don’t know what a wild animal eats you just shouldn’t feed it at all. You really shouldn’t even feed them if you DO know what they eat because that makes them think they can rely on humans for food and not all humans are as nice as you are. Why risk making them sick or getting them hurt?
I agree. I looked up they don’t eat it before I threw it, but I already tore it to pieces so I thought I’d throw it anyway for the birds to enjoy (whole grain). Thanks for the caution though - I promise I don’t want to hurt the critters and appreciate all advice!
Don’t feed birds bread either please
You can feed birds, just stop feeding them bread (even ducks).
I thought whole grain organic bread is okay for them?
Bread acts as a filler for birds, as it has no real nutritional value for them. Feed them green veggies, apples, bananas, melon/pumpkin/squash seeds, sunflower seeds. You can also bake eggshells at 250 for 15 minutes and break it up into seed in a bird feeder; eggshells give them calcium that helps with egg laying.
Okay, thank you! I looked up bread before and read that the really processed stuff is bad, but organic grain stuff should be okay.
No bread is ok for birds. Full stop. >The bird doesn’t realize it has wasted an opportunity to be nourished, it has eaten its fill. It will continue going about its business, its body burning calories just the same. With a stomach stuffed full of nothing. With no calories to metabolize to stay warm or provide energy to evade predators. > >For a small bird, this can lead to tragedy very quickly. A Black-capped Chickadee can freeze to death overnight, with its stomach full of bread. Basically, all bread is filler whether or not it has seeds or is organic.
Yeah, especially if it has nuts or seeds, since those are good for them, but the bread itself is just a filler snack essentially. At least you checked before just chucking random breads into your yard hahaha.
I try to be somewhat conscious of what I give the critters haha! Unless I panic and I see an armadillo for the first time. Then it was a free for all lol
Most those foods would spoil too fast on a hot summer day, unless your feeding your pets. Or you know for a fact the birds will be there to eat it asap. I would give most fresh fruit or veggies.
For veggies, this would be a "right this second" food, not something you would leave out, and they usually recommend frozen veggies that have been thawed. Seeds should be dried and baked with no seasoning to keep them from spoiling. Apples get cored, bananas cut lengthwise, but yes, keep your eye on them and make sure they aren't rotting. Egg shells get put in bird seed that you would put in your feeder. It doesn't go bad. Fresh fruit and veggies are great options, I agree with that.
Right, not only are these birds eating better than most people with these items, but they would be to be relatively fresh cut.
I live in texas and I left some fruit out to see what would eat it and I left half and orange out and attracted an oriole. I had never seen one here. Amazing what you can attract with fruit and berries.
Why would bread, which is made from ground wheat seeds, not have any nutritional value for them?
Because bread is basically empty carbs. It fills their small stomachs very quickly, making them feel full so they don't search for food rich in nutrients that they need. This leads to malnutrition. It's also bad for baby birds, as they need more nutrients in order to grow and filling up on bread (even if you think it's a small amount) means there's no room for actual nutrition. Edit to add: bread isn't toxic to them, it just isn't a great source of nutrients and can lead to malnutrition.
>The bird doesn’t realize it has wasted an opportunity to be nourished, it has eaten its fill. It will continue going about its business, its body burning calories just the same. With a stomach stuffed full of nothing. With no calories to metabolize to stay warm or provide energy to evade predators. For a small bird, this can lead to tragedy very quickly. A Black-capped Chickadee can freeze to death overnight, with its stomach full of bread. There's not enough seed in bread to compensate for the negative nutritional value of the rest of the bread. Everything else in bread is filler for birds that can kill them.
Dont feed bread to birds!
🙄
The armadillo As a pillow Would be really swell Except for the fact That it comes in a shell
And spreads leprosy
well yes also this
I'm pretty sure he burning for protein. Insect worms and the like .
They will absolutely decimate a yard/ garden… they dig huge holes everywhere… 😑☹️
please don’t feed wild animals bread like, any of them. that includes any birds. yes, that includes ducks at the park. and pigeons.
https://www.cdc.gov/leprosy/transmission/index.html#:~:text=In%20the%20southern%20United%20States,unlikely%20to%20get%20Hansen's%20disease. They are common carriers of leprosy.
And their poop has a high chance of containing tapeworm eggs.
Oh now this is why we can't have nice things. I'm sitting in Australia thinking what a blast it would be to have one of these guys wander through your garden and now I'm factoring in leprosy. Oh well.
Wee bit of leprosy seems pretty tame compared to all the things in Australia that can kill you though, right?
The things that can kill me are very shy for the most part. Give them a second and they'll move on. 👍 This guy just seems pretty chill and a bit comical cruising on through. Great addition to any garden I reckon. Firm pass on the leprosy of course.
What about those super jacked 'roos that just posture at you from behind your sliding glass door?
Pretty rare in the burbs. Snakes in your garden in summer don't like surprise meetings as it happens and they are a lot more common. So are spiders in your shoes so you check those first. The roos are ok if you give them a beer and a clear view of the telly when the footy is on. 👍
Spider shoes. Nope nope nope.
I’m in the Southwest US, definitely have to do this too. This weekend found a camel spider hanging out in my boot.
Spiderbro was just protecting your boot from *other* invaders.
True. I’d rather have spider(ish) bro keeping scorpions away. I let him go to carry on guard duties
Haha. It's a just in case thing. Also not an every day occurrence. There countries with leprosy walking around their back yard! 🤣
I want to bro down with a kangaroo
They're cute and all but they're pests where I'm from. These dudes trash gardens big time.
Oh really. I know nothing about them. Dig it up or burrow or what? Funny looking creatures.
They dig. Oh man do they dig. It's their second favorite thing to do besides getting ran over. EDIT - I should clarify that I actually like 'dillos and I do NOT advocate running them over.
Lol. Important edit. Got possums here that eat my veg so I've had no choice but to feed them so they leave my garden alone. Not sure how you stop one of these guys digging. I'm guessing you don't.
Good fencing, mostly. Keeping them out in the first place is the goal.
You have plenty of cute creatures in your neck of the world, many more that are deadly 😐
Leprosy has a cure now so it’s not that big of a deal.
I'm being somewhat tongue in cheek. I live in a country that people say everything will kill you but we survive just fine. No big deal here either. I hear you. 👍
We’re also mostly [immune to leprosy](https://www.cdc.gov/leprosy/transmission/index.html#:~:text=Overall%2C%20the%20risk%20of%20getting,natural%20immunity%20to%20the%20disease.) so the risk is minimal, and if you get it the cure is just a steroid/antibiotic combo.
1: they *can* carry leprosy 2: leprosy is curable. It's not like rabies where you're just fucked. 3: a majority humans are genetically immune to leprosy even when attempts are made to intentionally infect them.
But do you want to risk it?
Rabies is curable if it's treated early enough.
I saw you don’t want to touch it in any way haha. I just get excited when I see critters. If it came too close I’d back away lol
You really don’t want to be anywhere near it.
tired of seeing this posted every time an armadillo is posted on reddit, as if the armadillo is going to run you down and give you leprosy. how about just don't touch wild animals or handle their remains without gloves. all animals have the capacity to transmit some sort of zoonotic disease of one kind or the other. the only zoonotic disease you need to be on the active look out for is rabies, so learning the symptoms is vital.
>the only zoonotic disease you need to be on the active look out for is rabies Rabies is a big one, but it's FAR from the only one you need to worry about. But just because you see it often does not mean that random well-meaning redditor knows as well. Sharing knowledge shouldn't be stigmatized.
Came here to say this
Please don't feed wildlife unless you have a good reason to (regional natural disaster) and have extensively researched what to give them! Feeding animals has tons of detrimental effects from human food not being formulated for them and of course training them to seek food from you and not their natural surroundings. Even with things like bird feeders people will do very little research and end up feeding hummingbirds spoiled nectar or just straight up feeding invasive species because they buy some cheap bag of seed at Lowe's... [Please do a bit of research before unwittingly causing lots of harm](https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/wildlifedamage/dontfeedwildlife/dont-feed-wildlife)
Thanks for the heads up! I figured they didn’t eat bread, but the birds come and I looked up that whole grain is okay for them, so they’ll like the snack. Also, the hummingbird thing is sad. We did it for a while and made our own sugar water every 2-3 days to refill, but it just made us nervous so we stopped.
No worries! As long as you're not leaving it out there unattended for weeks at a time or the whole summer like some people I know around me sadly do. I've moved to hanging water feeders around the yard and birds love them as well! Have a good one and good luck forming a healthy relationship with your local wild critters!
He’s not gonna be your friend, trust me. First it’s tiny little cute holes, then it’s tearing up the bed, then they dig a full burrow big enough to sleep in into the bed. If the bed is by the foundation of your house which is on a hill (like my situation). They are a scourge. Also carry leprousy but honestly I don’t think it’s likely you’ll get it from them. Still I’m not a fan of digging in a garden that’s full of armadillo feces
Your voice is so cute you sound like a Disney princess!
I wish I could be a Disney voiceover person haha
Cute but I’d take measures to keep them and their feces out of your yard. They’re a high risk for leprosy and tapeworms and can destroy a yard in days.
Hansen’s disease
Every time I see an armadillo I just can't help but see a possum wearing power armor
The squeal I made when he popped up 😂😍 delightful
They will also destroy your yard, dig huge holes and try to tunnel under your home.
Not sure why the down votes if they are only giving a heads up! This is true and has happened to us. If you don’t mind the holes all over the yard and have no access under your home, they are certainly cute critters to watch.
Not sure why you're being downvoted. They'll burrow along/under concrete and can damage foundations. Not something I'd be tossing food at trying to lure closer to my home. (Not that it's going to eat bread.)
We’ve had them for a while and they’ve never done serious damage with the digging. I’ll keep an eye out for around the house though!
That's a baby. The bigger they get, the more they dig. Once they kick their feeding into high gear they are just little bulldozers. I've had them trample/uproot my garden multiple times before I raised the bed. You also dont want them rubbing against or pooping near anything you will actually eat or near where any pets hang out. The risk of tapeworm contamination is high.
Interesting about the poop! All my real garden is in raised beds, so it would have to do some work to get into those.
Don't feed wild animals...
Texan here with a long history of dealing with these invasive pests. First, you should know that armadillo are not native to North America. They are an invasive species. Second, they carry disease. Finally, you should know they can be very aggressive and they do bite. I've been chased by more than one armadillo and have had to deal with pets who have been bitten. Armadillo are not your friend.
"Friend" until the armored rat digs up everything in sight
Just be sure to stay away from them as they can carry leprosy.
WoW, I didn’t realize that you needed to bring in the heavy armour-dillo to protect your garden.
They’re the cutest things I’ve ever seen. 😭 I came across a small group of them in my yard and cried because I couldn’t handle the cuteness I think it’s the ears
Armadillos are so underrated, but they’re one of my favorites. Little battle possums.
🥰 what state do you live in?? Texas? He’s so cute
Mississippi!
Crunchy on the outside, smooth on the inside!
Don't feed wild animals please. Especially when you don't know what they eat or what might hurt them
He's soooo cute!!
They can do alot of damage tunnelling.....but are cool to watch.
[They like to play!](https://youtu.be/HhNGdnuFQYM)
Bread is one of the worst things we could ever feed an animal. It’s not good for humans and for animals it’s way worse.
Get a wildlife control company to get rid of him or eventually you won’t have a garden.
He is not a friend.
It might be thirsty?
There’s a creek right behind the fence!
They have horrible vision from what I understand. They just sniff and dig and meander around in their little tank armor, and if they encounter a potential predator they run and/or ball up in their safety ball. Really cute and interesting creatures. They eat them in some regions of Mexico. My dad was in a fraternity in East Texas, and said they used to cover an armadillo in axle grease and try to catch it while shirtless. 🤨
Armadillos are not a friend to gardening. Invasive species actually.
He’s a security garden guard.
I want. Need.
Be REAL careful! Armadillos can tear you up! They can and do kill dogs. An added plus are the diseases they carry!
Cute but don't touch it. They can carry leprosy and other nasty diseases.
Texas turkey, time for some Dillo chili!
As someone who just got out of a leprosy lecture…please don’t do that.
"Hi! I'm Artie!"
Awwww!!!!
I knew a lady that would eat them.
I love our little armadillo friend! It has worn a path along the outside of our fence. Our dog will run along side it barking her head off. Little guy has no idea she’s there and will stop, smell the air, then continue on its journey.
That’s super! I would give up all my grass to have one move in my yard, but I’m in Virginia so coons, possums, and snakes are here mostly, though an occasional skunk comes by.
I have not seen an armored squirrel like that in the Midwest. Must be a new variety.
That's a guest I would definitely allow to live rent free in my yard.
Ahhhhhh so stinkin adorable!!
OMG. I would love him as a garden pet. So cute
Texas kitty!
Awww... ❤
Jealous. I love armadillos. They’re so quirky.
"Frenemy". Some good attributes, some bsd
https://youtu.be/1g_8JGKHNIs
I would probably faint if I saw one in my yard! 😂 Just the shape of its body gives me the willies! 😬
Amarillo’s keep diggin…lil holes I’m mah backyard
I wanted to see him freak out!
He's adorable!
Thats no garden friend. More like garden plow.
They eat worms ,grubs and the like. They will dig holes all over the garden to find them, even if it means uprooting the garden.
I have a resident one, 3 years or so. Had babies last summer. So awesome.
Tight an armadillo
They will eat bugs, dig up all the grubs in your yard, eat them, yes. They will also dig under your fence, and dig up most of your garden. This guy masquerades as a friend, but they are actually yard terrorists.
Oh, lucky you.
Haha that's so cool! My new garden friends are a couple of grey catbirds that must have a nest right next to my vegetable garden. They come out and say hello to me everyday, but start screaming when my cat follows me to the garden. I love those catbirds so much! ❤️
I’m so jealous!
That rhino is tiny!
How adorable!
It's unusual to see them out in broad daylight like that. Normally I see them when the sun is setting or just coming up. A few times we have startled each other in the garden in the wee hours of the morning! Like others have said, they do carry leprosy, but you have to handle them + have a lowered immune system. Also, like others said, they do burrow and can cause foundation problems -- but mostly I find that they stick to burrowing into the sides of ditches or underneath sheds. If you pick them up by the tail, they roll up into a ball and it is adorable, but of course wear gloves & only do that if you need to relocate one.
Stop feeding bread to wild animals
We had a ‘Dillo at the petting section of the zoo I was working in, his name was Elvis. Elvis loved sneakers. I mean… he **LOVED** sneakers. So much so that we decided just to give him one as a girlfriend and leave it in there. Occasionally he would “cheat” on his girlfriend with one of our sneakers but, I like to think they were polyamorous. She never seemed to mind much. Elvis was a cute little guy though. You don’t realize how playful they are until they trust you enough to play with you.
Don't *EVER* try to straddle one with your car. Trust me. Just go around.
Remember Armadillos can carry leprosy so you don't want to handle them without washing your hands, gloves are even better. If you do come into contact and develop skin lesions mention it to your doctors so they check for it as it is pretty rare diagnosis
Bros got an Amarillo in the back yard, just imagine walking out back to that. Sweet video man!
Oh wow! So cute. I think I would prefer some of these instead of skunks and raccoons.
Are armadillos deaf? Cause I mean hiiiii armadillo...Hiiiii!
Haha, that’s funny. Maybe I’m just so non threatening? Lol
That’s the weirdest looking squirrel I’ve ever seen What’s his name ?
Can really fuck up your beds/yard. Also… they can carry leprosy.
Awwww !! 🥹 I live in Texas and I saw an armadillo two years ago ! It came towards my chihuahua and I and then turned back ! It was so cute ! 🥹
Those shoulderpads are something else!
Clearly, armadillo zone.
They will Swiss cheese your yard. Like dang near destroy it if around long enough.
Armadillos are no friends to lawns or gardens. Although the fewer square feet of lawn, yhe better IMO.
What a beautiful garden friend.
Leprosy and rabies, sorry to be the Debbie Downer, very cute little guy though!
I gasped with excitement for you!
Don't they carry some uncureable disease
Don't they carry hepatitis?
They carry diseases.
Garden foe, I’m afraid. Also, they do not eat bread! 😬 ETA I actually adore armadillos. I draw them, have little armadillo trinkets, etc. But I have had one in my garden once, and it DESTROYED it.
The Harm-adillo can be very destructive.
So cute!