Armadillo!

The Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) was one animal I was hoping to see in Florida. They are just so strange that I am always interested in them. (Mammals with a shell?) I saw my first (in a long time) this afternoon while hiking at Myakka River State Park. Armadillo is Spanish for 'little armored one'.
I got these first two photos before he ran off. I followed him to his hole, and could see his tail sticking out. I decided not to grab. He turned around and ran out of the hole.


Later, up the trail, I saw another. This one was digging intently and did not seem to see us well. Their little feeding holes are everywhere. You can see the hair on his belly and on his back.