Well folks, the proof is here, presently preserved in a freezer at the Marshall County Conservation facilities. Its ultimate fate is yet to be determined.

However, for sure, there is a bit of excitement now over a new-to-us species, as very uncommon as that may be. Armadillos are common in states south of Iowa. Travelers may see their motionless bodies most often along roadway shoulders, victims of vehicle impacts.

A common sight for Iowa roadway travelers are raccoons. Raccoons are very abundant and when they decide to cross a roadway, usually at night times, they may have the misfortune of becoming dead very quickly by impact with cars or trucks. Nature’s roadside cleanup crews, turkey vultures primarily, or eagles, owls or hawks, even coyotes, foxes or badgers, will pick at the carcass to obtain protein meals for themselves.

So what do scientists know about armadillos? Stand by for the details that I have been able to acquire.

First, they are a placental animal with archeological evidence in the fossil record going back 60 million years in South America. Today there are 21 species, but only one lives in North America, the Nine-banded Armadillo. In South America, the Giant Armadillo may grow to 59 inches long and weigh 115 pounds.

South America also has the pink fairy armadillo that is only five to six inches long. Ancient and extinct megafaunal glyptodonts grew to over four feet tall and weighed an estimated two tons. They became extinct about 12,000 years ago.

The country of Paraguay has the most diverse types of armadillos today. It is thought that from a geological standpoint, when a land connection between South and North America was created by earth crustal plate collisions, that land bridge allowed for animal migrations northward into North America during early Pleistocene times.

Second, all armadillo species have a protective shell, called a carapace, made up of bony overlapping plates on their skin. Osteoderms is the biological name for those plates that cover not just the head, back, rump and tail, but also the top areas of its legs, ears and face.

The name armadillo is Spanish for “little armored one.” The Aztec name is more precise and means “turtle-rabbit.” Third, the undersides do not have a shell, but do have a soft skin with fine hairs. Its short legs end with long and stout claws, excellent tools for digging into soils in pursuit of insects or making den sites.

There are four claws on the front feet and five claws on the back legs. An adult may be 28 to 33 inches long and tip a scale at 11 to 14 pounds. It has 32 degenerate peg-like teeth that are all premolars and molars.

Fourth, the diet consists primarily of insects, grubs, and other invertebrates. Some species also may focus on ants and termites. Those long tough claws allow the animal to dig deep into the soil.

Nine-banded armadillos prefer to dig burrows in moist soil near creeks, streams and arroyos. Fifth, eyesight is considered to be poor but make up for this sense by excellent smelling capabilities.

Sixth, Armadillos like water and can walk on stream bottoms while holding its breath for up to six minutes. If crossing larger water bodies, it will swallow air to increase its buoyancy.

Seventh, the amazing part of its reproduction is that females of the Genus Dasypus always give birth to four young and all are identical. One egg is fertilized but four genetically identical offspring are born. From a scientific point of view, why that happens only in this genus is a biological mystery and a great research theme.

Nine-banded armadillos can also employ delayed implantation. A typical gestation lasts from 60 to as much as 120 days, depending upon the species.

Eighth, body temperature is generally low, about 91 to 97 degrees fahrenheit. Metabolic rates are only 40 to 60 percent of what would be expected by other placental mammals of equal mass.

Lastly is this additional mystery of biology. It involves the study of the disease leprosy, specifically the leprosy bacterium called Mycobacterium leprae. Armadillos and mangabey monkeys, rabbits and mice are among the few known species that can contract the disease systemically.

This is thought to be due in part to a 93F body temperature, which is low. Human skin is about 93F, and humans have contracted leprosy infections by handling them or by consuming undercooked armadillo meat. Armadillos are the presumed vector and natural reservoir for the disease in Texas, Louisiana and Florida.

An Iowa DNR publication from 2018 summarized armadillo information. For at least the last 100 years, probably more, the Nine-banded Armadillo has been expanding its range northward from Texas and Mexico. When startled, the animal may jump as much as three to four feet above the ground. So it is understandable that an armadillo crossing a roadway while a vehicle approaches will likely have an impact with a disastrous result.

A Des Moines Register story from 2016 told of a road-killed armadillo found near Carlisle. It is uncommon to see this unique mammal in Iowa, but documentation of its presence is now on record.

And Marshall County was the place during July of 2024.

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Native prairie grasses and forbs are putting on a show this summer. In particular are native grasses at the Marietta Sand Prairie, located about three miles southwest of Albion on Knapp Avenue. As a botanical and biologically significant parcel of public land, there are 212 acres of

land to hike upon, camera in hand and/or plant identification guides at the ready, to help one learn more about the subtle beauty of native grasslands.

Dominant grasses that are becoming most visible now include little bluestem, big bluestem, Indiangrass, sand reed grass, Junegrass, tall dropseed, and needlegrass. Forb plants to look for are blazing star, birdfoot violet, Missouri goldenrod, savory leaf aster, partridge pea, sage, and dotted mint.

This list is tiny but it is a start. A professional botanist’s species list is nearly 300 plant types. While upland loamy soil based prairies may be more common, sand soil based prairies are much more rare and therefore do contain unique plant types.

Exploring nature at the Marietta Sand Prairie is available for your inquisitive mind this summer and fall. Enjoy.

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Rainfall this year has been abundant and, for the most part, welcome. Here is just a sampling of what my data for 2024 indicates.

Beginning in March, my Albion total was 2.14″. Then April rains added 4.13″. May came in with 9.73″, and June’s rains were 5.49″. So far in July, I have recorded 5.36″ and the month is not over.

My Albion total to date rains for 2024 is 31.51″ — .an amount that is usually a spring through fall total for this part of Iowa. What will happen between now and the end of October is known only to Mother Nature. A wetter than normal year is in the making. Natural history moments are being made every day. Us humans must learn to adapt since we really have no other choice.

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A reminder that an Aug. 22 and 24 hunter safety course is now posted and taking signups. This traditional course involves a Thursday night classroom introduction from 6 to 9 p.m. and then on the 24th, an all day activity and classroom mix from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Anyone at least 12 years of age or more is welcome to sign up at GoOutdoorsIowa.com.

Click on the icon for Events and Hunter Education Certification Classes to become enrolled. The location for this class is at the Izaak Walton League grounds located two miles south of Iowa Avenue on Smith Avenue. Once this hunter education course is taken and the test passed, it is valid for life and valid in all 50 states and provinces of Canada.

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Garry Brandenburg is the retired director of the Marshall County Conservation Board. He is a graduate of Iowa State University with a BS degree in Fish & Wildlife Biology.

Contact him at:

P.O. Box 96

Albion, IA 50005