Cute Pests

See, on one hand, I know that the local nine-banded armadillos can be destructive - last year they covered our yard in potholes. And they are the only animals that carry leprosy; there are usually around 10 cases a year in Florida alone.

But on the other hand, when they are young, they are adorable! This morning as we drove home, Randy noticed four young armadillos in a yard just a few feet from ours. I went home, grabbed my camera, and ran back. They were still there, eating their way across the yard.  I know they are a pest, but they are so cute!

Nine-banded armadillos always give birth to four identical young, so these four are probably from the same nest. They were very focused on digging, eating, then moving again. 

They walked quickly but just as often they hopped, like tiny armored kangaroos. 

They were so quick, in fact, that I couldn't get a good photo. They weren't running away, they were just keeping busy. I wanted this guy to be still so I could get a good look at those claws. 

I could get to like them just on account of their eating habits - at least two of these guys were tearing up a fire ant nest and eating all the eggs they could find. They kept shaking their heads as the ants tried to fight back, but they didn't leave until they were ready. Since I hate fire ants so very, very much, this made me smile. But I have to remind myself that, after all, they were digging up a well-maintained grass lawn - and I cannot stress enough how hard it is to have a nice lawn in this area. 

They ignored me completely. I followed them across the road when one turned back, perhaps deciding that the pickings were better where he had been. I was in his way and I thought he'd go around me. Suddenly I realized that I'd better be the one who moved out of the way 'cause he wasn't even thinking about it!