Ha! Just when the 100°F+ (38°C) weather has dragged on long enough for me to start whining about the lack of lively things happening in my garden and haul out the photo albums of earlier spring and summer shots to moon and maunder over, This. We came driving down to the end of our driveway last night after a concert and I saw something shining in the farthest reaches of our headlights. Then a twitch of movement. Saw a flash of pinkish color in the dim illumination.
Halt! Who goes there?
After three years of living in Texas and only one sighting of an armadillo other than the variety occasionally spotted in a sort of worn-area-rug likeness on desolate stretches of highway, there in my own backyard were a pair of waddling ‘dillos searching the perimeter of the house for tasty bugs and grubs. I’ve known, of course, that living on a property that shares its back border with a little greenbelt ravine, we have all sorts of creatures–possums, raccoons, birds, insects, squirrels, wild rabbits, and the assortment of neighborhood cats and dogs that keep an eye on them all–there were likely armadillos too. I’ve heard from various locals of such residents as wild turkeys and coyotes, as well, and heard from a bobcat itself that it at least formerly inhabited our little slice of the semi-wildness. But other than the one unfortunate flat armadillo that I once found run over on a neighboring street, I’d not seen any hard evidence of their inhabiting this spot.
So it was a delight to see these funny, eccentric looking and shy nocturnal visitors not only in the neighborhood but in our own yard. They were remarkably unmoved by us, even when my chauffeuring spouse stopped the car, rolled up the automatic garage door and let me clamber out with my little camera to try to catch a glimpse of them to keep. They were already rounding the corner of the house almost immediately after we spotted them, so I crept indoors and out the front door. Our porch lights are meant only to light the porch, so there was no real way to see the critters in that dark, but as soon as I stepped out into the black I could hear bits of rustling off to my right. Yes, they’d come out to investigate the front flowerbeds and rummage in the buffet at the foot of the oak trees.
You don’t scare us, we’re just deeply disinterested in your measly (and inedible) humanity when there’s an all-you-can-eat bug fest here.
Lacking any fabulous infrared spy camera or night vision goggles for the occasion, I simply took my little point-and-shoot in hand and, well, pointed and shot. Aimed for the scuffling and shuffling sounds as best I could. Caught a couple of quick little glimpses as the flash went off in its nearly random way. And rejoiced that these delightfully surreal animals had decided for once to pay me a visit when I could actually be on hand to appreciate it. Life does go on, no matter the weather, the season or the condition of my plants. After all, if the plants had continued to be too vigorous, the insects wouldn’t find such rich dining on them and there would be little fascinating forage for my miniature garden-zeppelin friends. And I do thank them for helping with the insect-control efforts here. And probably, for some free fertilizer in the bargain, especially if I startled anyone with my camera flash.
Two long-tailed blimps bumbling around in the dirt by night . . . what could be better!
Art-Colored Glasses 
Glad you enjoyed your Armadillo sightings. With your past experiences with the armored guys you will appreciate this joke. Why did the chicken cross the road? To prove to the armadillos that it could be done!
You made me snort! How very unladylike of me (and how typical!). 😉
We are WAY north of armadillo country, but my kids find them fascinating, all the same. (Though I have discouraged them from their Rolling Armadillo game. Too many head injuries on the hardwood.) And really, who wouldn’t?
You might remind the kids that the armadillos have armor when they roll up that would be much more protectively bowling-ball-like on the hardwood. Or, wait–would that just make them set up bowling pins at the other end of the room!! 😉
Way back in the day, like in the Pleistocene, armadillos were the size of Volkswagens. They were called Glyptodons. You can color one if you like.
And if you want some real-time fun, try walking up on them. Their eyesight is terrible, so if you approach directly from behind, you can walk right up their tail before their freak out and make what passes for a run for it. Trust me on this one. 😉
Funny, I was just talking to someone last night who said the same thing about catching shortsighted possums unawares! Frankly, I was more worried that since neither the armadillos nor I could see much of anything we’d just crash into each other altogether! 🙂 Glyptodons, yes, very cool–there’s a nice model of one, if I remember right, in the provincial museum in Edmonton (AB).
That would be “before they freak out”, of course.
Don’t freak out over the typo–I can produce plenty of my own!!! 😉
Armored Rats…as my parents used to call them!!! but still intriguing.
Must be handy to have a tank for both transportation and skin! They are such wonderfully weird creatures. If I gave them credit for having that much brain, I wonder what they would think of *our* looks!
You should see them jump! I scared one in Mom’s backyard years ago, and the thing jumped a good 18 inches, straight up! They’re so cute, trundling off across the grass…adorable faces, too!
Truly strange little guys. I didn’t know they also came with spring-action. BOING! I’m picturing the party-trick spring-loaded can from the magic/trick shop, but pre-loaded with an armadillo. Hmmm. Invention alert! 😀
What an odd looking animal! Still, I’d gladly give you our opossum for your armadillos. Straight up, even trade. Deal?
What, I’m going to trade *down* my Armored Rat (see Mark’s comment above) for a giant *nekkid* one??? Thanks, we already have plenty of possums too. *Those* I see fairly regularly. But you can come and visit our armadillos anytime–if you can get them to come out of hiding! You might not be entirely enthusiastic about the exchange if you’ve heard that armadillos have fairly recently been discovered to be the only known mammal that carries and can transmit the same form of leprosy that’s found in humans. Eek. We’re told that when gardening in soil that’s been ‘visited’ by ‘dillos’ we must be particularly careful to keep well covered and wear gloves and boots and keep ultra clean. Of course, we’re having to do that extra this year anyhow because of West Nile cases being at an all-time high here. Ah, the joys of Texas gardening! 😉
I had never seen photographs of them, they are quite interesting looking creatures, Kathryn. Very different to say the least 🙂
Yes, and you should look up their dinosaur ancestors the Glyptodons (mentioned by our Shoreacres friend above) too. I think armadillos are among the most wonderfully strange creatures *I’ve* ever seen!
Awesome, how fabulous that you “caught” them on camera Kathryn – well done! Ooh, I wonder if there are any baby ‘dillios in your garden too? Now that would be super awesome!
🙂 Mandy
I guess that where there are ‘dillos there will be baby ‘dillos! But I’ve yet to see any little ones here. Still very fun to have seen the adults. Weird, amazing and fun! 🙂
xo
Reblogged this on Quiet Trips with an Old Bat and commented:
The day before yesterday, we explored Dinosaur Journey in Fruita, Colorado. They have a display of animated ice-age mammals celebrating the recent discovery of a fossil treasure trove near Snowmass.
One of the animated critters on display is a bizarre armored mammal with a mace for a tail that looks very much like this armadillo. For those of us who live in other places, this inhabitant of Texas is very exotic!
Thanks for the visit and reblog, bluerabbit! Glad to make your acquaintance!
Yes, there were a couple of dinosaur ancestors to the armadillo–in some ways, the very antiquity of the armadillos’ appearance is part of what makes them so amazing and appealing to me.
I think it’s exciting that you saw them and were able to photograph them. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
Glad to have the opportunity!
What strange prehistoric-looking creatures! And how wonderful to see them firsthand. Wonderful shots, Kathryn, and thanks for sharing.