Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)

The Nine-Banded Armadillo

by Alice Delaney               

The Nine-Banded Armadillo is a very different creature to see;

It digs for its food, unlike you or me.

Insects are the dinner the armadillo’d pick,

And in brush land, woodland & forest they stick.

Not one, but four at birth you will see,

Born identical quadruplets, the ‘dillos come to be.

From dusk to dawn, that is, night, you might see,

But don’t touch these guys; you can get leprosy!

A few predators, I’m afraid, do exist,

That gobble the ‘dillo up with a great deal of bliss.

Hunters, coyotes & dogs they are named,

But being road kill has become the dillo’s claim to fame.

In the 1970’s armadillo races were the fun,

Spread from Texas to Canada & Europe they’d run.

His round, hard shell, & history tell us why

The Texas mascot has become this cute little guy!