Do Armadillos Swim?

Do armadillos swim? There are some images that just make you grunt, “Hmmm.” That’s the feeling I got when I first saw an armadillo swim. If they fill their stomach and lungs with air, they can double in size and float despite the weight of their shell, which should sink them.

Amelia Island is surrounded by water, so just about everything on this southern barrier island can swim. Able to hold their breath for around five minutes, armadillos can even walk across the bottom of a creek or stream, remaining underwater, to get to the other side. These solitary animals prefer to live alone. While they look like they
may be a form of a reptile, they are actually mammals. Their name “armadillo” means “little armored one” in Spanish.

In Florida armadillos can be a nuisance to the homeowner, but if you trap one you must euthanize it or release it within the same county it was captured that has 40 acres of wilderness and you’ll need written permission from the property owner. Despite all this work, they don’t do well when relocated. Getting them to move out on their own is a wiser decision. Simply put a light into their burrow, or a radio. Don’t block their exit and they will relocate on their own.

The nine banded armadillo is popular in our area. The females have identical quadruplets when they breed. They can also alter their gestation period to give birth at the optimum time and location for the mom. They only time they share a burrow is when they have young who are still nursing. When frightened, an armadillo can jump four to five feet high, which is why they are often seen as roadkill along the side of the road.

They like to eat insects and grubs, especially when found in soft soil that is easier for them to dig for their dinner. They are nocturnal animals, and they don’t have good eyesight, but they can smell for great distances.

Many armadillos carry diseases like encephalitis, leptospires, arboviruses, and leprosy. It appears intimate exposure is the best way to catch one of these diseases. They best way to avoid infection would be to use gloves when working with dirt in the area of known armadillo burrows. Also, one should be careful when handling dead animals or when
hunting and eating armadillos. They say it tastes like a fine grain, high quality pork. It is rather popular in the average diet of people in Central or South America and in the southern Mexican city, Oaxaca. While people in the United States don’t normally consume armadillo, it was a common meal for Americans during the great depression.

Categorised in: Amelia Island, Wildlife & Marine Biology