What kind of armadillos are in missouri

Nine-Banded Armadillo. Field Guide Aquatic Invertebrates. Butterflies and Moths. Land Invertebrates. Reptiles and Amphibians. Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines. Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Nonwoody Plants. Scientific Name. Primarily in the southern half of the state, but a few individuals have been reported as far north as the Missouri-Iowa state line.

Habitat and Conservation A variety of terrestrial habitats are used, but they seem to prefer oak-hickory or shortleaf pine forests. Because they dig burrows in the ground, they select wooded bottomlands, brushy areas, and fields with ground cover and loose soil. Their sight and hearing are poor, and they have the unusual habit of jumping upright when frightened, which explains why so many are hit by automobiles.

They can run fast when pursued, and though their shell protects them somewhat, they cannot curl into a ball. Food Armadillos eat foods of animal origin — mostly insects and other invertebrates. Ants, adult and larval beetles, and flies are the main items, but earthworms and an occasional reptile round out the diet.

Fungi and fruit are occasionally taken. Food is located by the nose, which is held close to the ground. The sharp claws then dig to expose the food, which is flicked into the mouth with the long sticky tongue. You may want to compare the cost of exclusion to other forms of control and consider the value of the resources you want to protect before investing in fencing materials.

These are not recommended because none are known to be effective. Mothballs contain toxic naphthalene, and the vapor is harmful to humans. Body-grip traps are not allowed for dry-land sets in Missouri, and foothold traps are not effective for armadillos.

Cage-type traps are effective and easy to use. Place a bybyinch trap along pathways leading to burrows or along fences or other barriers.

For bait, suspend a nylon sack such as the foot cut from an old pair of pantyhose filled with overripe fruits, earthworms, or mealworms in the trap. Armadillos do not hibernate — they simply weather a cold winter by finding food and shelter from the elements as best they can. The reason so many armadillos are found dead on the road is not because of poor mobility. Have you noticed the millions of armadillos wandering around the St.

However, as armadillos are primarily nocturnal—especially during the summer—shooting may not be a practical control.