The armadillos are here in Southern Illinois
As we headed out the kitchen door this morning, while feeling that fresh cold air rush into my lungs and looking upwards to the cloudless sky, we knew it was going to be a beautiful day for hiking in the Shawnee National Forest. The sun was not yet up, but, that's okay for us early birders.
One of my buddies and I were headed south towards Clear Springs Wilderness Area which is located here in Southern Illinois. It's along the Big Muddy River in Jackson County, an area which one might see most any critter that walks on four legs here in Southern Illinois. We have been roaming these lowland and bluff areas through the Shawnee National Forest from Sand Ridge (Jackson County) southward to Wolf Lake (Union County) for over 45 years and are somewhat familiar with most critters that call this region their home.
After spending most of the morning in the woods at Clear Springs we decided to hop in the truck and travel a few back-roads toward Alto Pass - home to the Bald Knob Cross of Peace.
As we drove along one of the old roads my buddy said, "Hey, look over there." As he pointed toward an open field area that butted up against a woods-lot in the Shawnee the sun was high in the sky and shining very brightly accentuating everything from shadows of rocks and fallen tree. As I strained my eyes looking maybe 100 yards up-the-way close to the woods tree-line the only thing I thought I saw was maybe some downed tree limbs and a rock on the ground. My buddy again said, "See it, it just moved again." And sure enough, it seemed as though that rock had levitated close to earth and started moving.
As we got somewhat closer that perceived rock turned into a critter - a critter like no other critter I had ever seen "alive" here in Southern Illinois. It was now floating along the earth and when it would turn the various angles of sunlight reflecting off of it caused the critter to look different with time. To the amazement of my eyes, yes it was, and yes it is a real live Armadillo - a proverbial critter that can root-up the ground like a John Deere tractor pulling a field cultivator and they are here is Southern Illinois alive and well.
The reason I say "they" are here is because my buddy and I have been seeing their tale-tale signs in and around the Shawnee National Forrest areas for quite-some-time now as they plow-up the earth in search of their vittles which is usually insects and invertebrates. Usually, one might think of Armadillos as being further South in the United States, but over the years it appears their species has continued moving northward.
I have read that there are around 15 to 20 different species of Armadillos, but the only species in the United States is the nine-banded armadillo, so I am assuming this critter we are looking at and observing is of that persuasion. Despite their name, it is said that nine-banded armadillos can have seven to 11 bands on their armor.
After crawling on my knees several yards to get in closer proximity of this critter I observed it for about 40 minutes as it rooted in the earth and performed other antics which were foreign to me as an observer. I was just trying to understand its behaviors. It's an interesting mammal. It has a long nose for rooting up earth, it has armor covering its body, it has long strangely hair protruding from below the armor around it face and legs and if that's not enough, it also has gigantic toe nail/claws for excavating the earth with a large tale that reminded me of a billy-club.
I found it so interesting how it would claw its way deep into the earth. Sometimes its head would be buried under the soil almost up to its ears for 3 or 4 minutes at a time. I have read where they can hold their breath for 5 minutes or more. It's definitely a different type critter than we are use to seeing and dealing with in our locale.
After leaving the first live Armadillo I had ever seen and observed in the wild, this day, here in Southern Illinois, my mind pondered how Mother Nature changes everything with time and turbulence - nothing stays the same - and how that each species must adapt to the ever changing environment to survive. This Armadillo will compete for its vittles with many of the native mammals here in Southern Illinois but, life and its challenges are good. Tolerance and sternness blended together, it builds strength of character for the surviving species which can help further assure its perpetual life on Earth.
While climbing back in the truck and getting ready to head home towards Murphysboro, I recollected what my dad had told me many years ago. He said, "I never saw a whitetail deer in the wild until I was almost 40 years old."
Life is good.