Posted on 05/20/2010 8:08:49 AM PDT by JoeProBono
WEVER, Iowa,- Experts said an armadillo found dead at the side of a southeastern Iowa road may have been part of an early species range expansion.
Ron Andrews, a biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said armadillos are commonly found in the south central and southeastern United States, Mexico and South America, but one of the animals was found Saturday at the side of the road by a rural couple near Wever, The (Burlington, Iowa) Hawk Eye, reported Wednesday.
He said the animal may have been part of an early species range expansion.
"In southeast Iowa, the chances are a little rarer than in southwest Iowa because the rascals have been moving up from the more southwesterly side (of the region.) But I do know this, nothing is impossible anymore in this day and age. You never want to say never," Andrews said.
He said the armadillo may have also been captured somewhere else and released in the area or it may have stowed away on a truck or a train.
"We have no way to know for sure," Andrews said. "It's one of those quirky things we're going to have to really watch as the next year unfolds to see if more show up."
How many North Koreans can you get on one of those mini-subs?
I have one visit my yard every now and then. There are PLEENTY of armadillos down at the farm near Giddings.
We have a lot of deer wandering through our yard here in Lakeway—but I’ve never seen an armadillo anywhere around.
Supposedly, there are some feral hogs on our “ranch” out near Lampassas, but I’ve never seen one. We do see evidence of them, though..
In the city of Detroit, they seldom cross the roads these days. Instead, they climb the telephone posts then walk the line over the street to the other pole and climb down.....
And not being funny but most of the squirrels in Detroit are now black.........The brown fox squirrels either got killed crossing the streets by cars or moved to the suburbs......
The deer have been pests since we moved out to Lago. I built a fence since we have a dog and she needs to run outside. At least we can keep a few things that they can’t get to and eat.
The armadillos have a tendency to dig for grubs, and I must have had a bunch in the front yard. I haven’t seen any activity lately.
Jaguar’s are back in the US (and that’s cool I think)
LOL
Joe, that’s a great photo-—boy are they freaky looking. I lived in FL for some time and did see some live ones. The ones in GA have joined the ranks of sleeping ‘possum along our roadsides.
Another great shot!
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