Jackson County Armadillo

21 years ago

I was driveing home from work today on 50 highway east of 291 in Lee's Sumit and saw what appeared to be a DOA armadillo on the side of the road. I thought, "that cant be right, maybe it was a mutilated snapping turtle" so I turned around and parked in front of it. Sure enought, it was a armadillo. The only ones Ive seen this far north have been maybe a hour south of Sedalia. Who knows? It may of been an unwanted pet or maybe they are moveing north. Ill keep my eyes out for more.

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Comments (13)

herpfriend
21 years ago
Armadillos are definately moving north. I have seen them around St. Louis, and one near Odessa. There have been reports of them even being found in southern Nebraska. The milder winters is allowing them to move farther north.
wayne_mo
21 years ago
They are moving north. I have seen dead ones on I-70 near Columbia more than once and near Warrenton at least a couple times. Granted this far north the dead ones I see are maybe two times a year and not like in SW Missouri where I might see 6 DOAs in a day, but its possible to see DOA ones almost anywhere in Missouri.

I still haven't seen a live one in Missouri. Have seen some in Texas and Georgia. Cool animal in my opinion.
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mitchell_m
21 years ago
Thats wierd, because I swear I saw a DOA here in Indiana two days ago, but never turned around to look because other people were with me. If it was one, it was probably a released/escaped pet.
Gary2sons_MO
21 years ago
They seem to be quite a lot here in Camden county. Very rare several years ago but see DOR's almost daily. Definitely moving farther North each year.

We saw our first live ones last year while driving the roads at night looking for copperheads. Saw a total of two which was as exciting as finding snakes. Almost got film on both but they took off when I got within a few feet both times.
kcmatt
21 years ago
I saw one on 470 in Kansas City last year.
ChrisMO
21 years ago
Anyone ever wonder if the armadillo's native habitat is Dead on a Road? I think there is a scientific argument here (based on field observations of course) ...
KeithB
21 years ago
They are in Jackson county I am sure. I believe they have extended their range up to the SE corner of Nebraska and above I-70 in most of Missouri from East to West.
northernIL
21 years ago
Armadillos seem to be doing very well and are definitely moving north. They have become extremely common in Wayne and Carter counties. I saw a DOR near Rend Lake in Illinois a couple years ago.

Scott
serpentryan
21 years ago
I have also seen DOR's and DOA's in Jefferson and St. Charles County Missouri.

Ryan
webkat5
21 years ago
I have heard that they "hitch" rides on over-the-road trucks coming from Texas and so forth...could explain all of the DOR's.
northernIL
21 years ago
I think there are a lot of DOR armadillos simply because they are slow, and wont move from the path of oncoming traffic. Also, some people dont like them, jus tlike snakes, and will hit them on purpose.
wduzak
21 years ago
We had the same debate here in Tennessee on where the dead ones were coming from when we weren't seeing any live ones...until a friend pointed out - and he and I spend a lot of time in the woods - when was the last time we had seen a live possum during the day. Or for that matter a live rattlesnake.
They're here in Tennessee but not in numbers to make them a common sight, except when they run afoul of cars.
They also have the bad habit of leaping straight up when startled. I guess its a defense measure that works well in the wild but is counter-productive on the highways.
Possums have the same kind of bad habits. When confronted with 2,000 pounds of steel and plastic coming toward them at 60 mph, they - bless their hearts - try to intimidate the vehicle by puffing up and exposing their sharp little teeth.
herpfriend
21 years ago
Armadillos are not slow! They can outrun humans for short distances, although we are not very fast compared to most four legged animals. Armadillos have poor eyesight and probably can't see a car approaching until it is too late. And, like most mammals, the bright lights of the vehicle temporarily blind and/or disorient them.

Jackson County Armadillo

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herpfriend

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