INDIANA — Indiana now has established breeding populations of nine-banded armadillos, according to a recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey. The armored mammals, once a curiosity of the South, have colonized much of southeastern Indiana and are continuing to spread north and west into the state.
The first confirmed armadillo sighting in Indiana was in 2003. Still, experts believe the state’s population has since grown and become “established,” a term used to describe a species that is frequently observed and has a permanent breeding population in a specific area. Since 2003, there have been over 200 reported sightings, with the animals spreading along river corridors like the Wabash and White rivers.
Experts believe the animals are migrating from Illinois, as the Ohio River likely serves as a barrier to those coming from Kentucky. The northward expansion is attributed to milder winters due to climate change, as armadillos lack the insulating fat needed to withstand cold weather.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) does not have an active management plan for the species and does not believe it will have a significant negative impact on native wildlife. However, the animals’ burrowing and digging habits can cause damage to lawns and property. While nine-banded armadillos are protected under the Indiana Administrative Code, a landowner can remove or kill an armadillo without a permit if it is destroying or causing substantial damage to their property.
