Tips For Managing Nuisance Armadillo

The Culprit The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is one of about 20 species of armadillo in the Americas, and is the only armadillo that occurs in the U.S. The word ‘armadillo’ is Spanish for ‘little armored one’, which is an apt description as they are covered with thick protective scales, and has earned the nickname of ‘possum on the half-shell’. Armadillos are mammals and have sparse hair mostly on their underside. The ninebanded armadillo typically has a single fertilized egg that splits into four, so it gives birth to four identical young. Another unique characteristic is that, while armadillo can swim, they sometimes walk under water when crossing shallow ditches.