Oh, they are cute, and eating yellowjacket nests is a real bonus. Also, I loved Krakatoa by Simon Winchester. One of the books I want to write (and there are many of them) was inspired by that book (it's about Mt Erebus).
It's on my "to be written" pile. I've got an idea for an easier one which I could do first, because if I can make that work I can then pitch to do something more challenging (and which requires travel to Antarctica).
You've convinced me - I'm Team Armadillo. Although I can't say I wasn't before - just never thought about it in the Northeast. And Wincester's book Krakatoa is wonderful (like all his books).
Love Team Armadillo! I wasn't able to convince a friend earlier in the week when describing the upcoming issue, so glad at least you're on board! What other Winchester books have you read that you'd recommend?
I think they are ingeniously engineered by nature, too, with their armor. I've added them to my "Curiosity" list (things I want to follow up on in my nature journal - yes, I never grew out of my nerdhood, what?). ;-)
I loved the Professor and the Madman - about the two men behind the Oxford English Dictionary - it's riveting. I also enjoyed The Map That Changed The World very much.
The story is paywalled, but the title has me intrigued - do Floridians really wrestle armadillos? Shortly after posting my armadillo issue I saw an online article mentioning the increased leprosy cases in Florida and its possible tie to armadillos. I think if we humans can keep our hands off of them we can live in harmony - I know I'm glad to have fewer yellow jacket nests!
" Armadillo wrestlers (who chase, capture and wrangle with the creatures) are also at risk—the nine-banded armadillo can carry the disease. " That is the only reference to Armadillo wrestlers in The Economist. I think the editor wanted an attention-grabbing title. However the article points out that 17% of leprosy cases in the US are recorded in Florida (despite only having 7% of US population) and 80% of these cases come from central Florida.
I absolutely love this post because...jumping ANTEATERS who carry leprosy? Also...would you like to swap posts about something natural and interesting? :)
I love Armadillos. They're just adorable & I wanted one as a pet when I was a kid... Until I learned that they carry Leprosy. Which they most certainly did not contract from humans. That is not how it works. Humans most likely contracted Leprosy from animals, not the other way around, but I digress. This isn't about virology or vectors of infection.
In my 61 years of life - the planet hasn't warmed abnormally despite popular sciolism since before I was born! Data proves it even if one is incapable of understanding, or believe their opinion's magically transcend Logically certain axioms.
Geologically the planet is still advancing away from the last Ice-Age. Of course there was the cataclysmic event of the Younger Dryas period that plunged the planet in the opposite direction back towards another Ice Age, disrupting natural recovery... Nonetheless, the history of our planet is locked within the Geology, not the opinions of its inhabitants, though most are incapable of comprehending this Logically certain 'axiomatic' fact. But again, I digress, this isn't about Geology, or Climate change, despite the allusion to these non sequitur - this is about Armadillos, right?
Armadillos migrate. Nothing stops their cute little feet from seeking food sources except the cold. They will go where they can to find food/shelter as long as the weather is warm enough. It has nothing to do with opinion's about climate - or opinion's about anything else for that matter. For example - there have been Armadillos in Southern Oregon my entire lifetime... I am an Oregon native. The Armadillos have yet to make it over the mountain range and into the much cooler Willamette Valley and I doubt they will because - the change in elevation gets to cold for Armadillos to survive that migration. Nonetheless, they've been in Oregon longer than my lifetime. Nothing unusual here.
Moreover, there's nothing abnormal about Armadillos in GA. I served in the United States Army in Georgia, Alabama, & Florida over 40 years ago. There were Armadillos all over the place. Armadillos have been found all along the 'sunbelt' of the Southern U.S. from the East coast to the West in my lifetime. Nothing unusual here.
Thank you for reminding us that despite how cute and seemingly harmless Armadillos are - they carry Leprosy, but deserve to exist unmolested, and we have great responsibility to protect them and all other animals. My parents always said - I would live in a menagerie of animals if I could. I have always liked animals more than people because animals don't lie or have opinions.
Thank you so much for your detailed thoughts! I'll check out the books you mentioned - I love that books can take us to so many places we haven't yet been - your descriptions paint a very vivid picture! Glad you enjoyed the piece on armadillos :-)
Oh, they are cute, and eating yellowjacket nests is a real bonus. Also, I loved Krakatoa by Simon Winchester. One of the books I want to write (and there are many of them) was inspired by that book (it's about Mt Erebus).
I'd love to read that book, Melanie! Go for it!
It's on my "to be written" pile. I've got an idea for an easier one which I could do first, because if I can make that work I can then pitch to do something more challenging (and which requires travel to Antarctica).
You've convinced me - I'm Team Armadillo. Although I can't say I wasn't before - just never thought about it in the Northeast. And Wincester's book Krakatoa is wonderful (like all his books).
Love Team Armadillo! I wasn't able to convince a friend earlier in the week when describing the upcoming issue, so glad at least you're on board! What other Winchester books have you read that you'd recommend?
I think they are ingeniously engineered by nature, too, with their armor. I've added them to my "Curiosity" list (things I want to follow up on in my nature journal - yes, I never grew out of my nerdhood, what?). ;-)
I loved the Professor and the Madman - about the two men behind the Oxford English Dictionary - it's riveting. I also enjoyed The Map That Changed The World very much.
Thanks for the recommendations - those look great! Krakatoa was the first book of his I've read, but now these other two are on my TBR list
You’re welcome. I’m interested to know what you think about them whenever you read them!
Thought you might be interested in this The Economist article about leprosy, including the link to armadillos. https://www.economist.com/united-states/2023/08/24/floridians-should-avoid-wrestling-armadillos-unless-absolutely-necessary
The story is paywalled, but the title has me intrigued - do Floridians really wrestle armadillos? Shortly after posting my armadillo issue I saw an online article mentioning the increased leprosy cases in Florida and its possible tie to armadillos. I think if we humans can keep our hands off of them we can live in harmony - I know I'm glad to have fewer yellow jacket nests!
" Armadillo wrestlers (who chase, capture and wrangle with the creatures) are also at risk—the nine-banded armadillo can carry the disease. " That is the only reference to Armadillo wrestlers in The Economist. I think the editor wanted an attention-grabbing title. However the article points out that 17% of leprosy cases in the US are recorded in Florida (despite only having 7% of US population) and 80% of these cases come from central Florida.
Keep up the great work!
I absolutely love this post because...jumping ANTEATERS who carry leprosy? Also...would you like to swap posts about something natural and interesting? :)
Toby! I'd love to do that! It's intimidating as heck to imagine, but I'd love to - let's chat!
I love Armadillos. They're just adorable & I wanted one as a pet when I was a kid... Until I learned that they carry Leprosy. Which they most certainly did not contract from humans. That is not how it works. Humans most likely contracted Leprosy from animals, not the other way around, but I digress. This isn't about virology or vectors of infection.
In my 61 years of life - the planet hasn't warmed abnormally despite popular sciolism since before I was born! Data proves it even if one is incapable of understanding, or believe their opinion's magically transcend Logically certain axioms.
Geologically the planet is still advancing away from the last Ice-Age. Of course there was the cataclysmic event of the Younger Dryas period that plunged the planet in the opposite direction back towards another Ice Age, disrupting natural recovery... Nonetheless, the history of our planet is locked within the Geology, not the opinions of its inhabitants, though most are incapable of comprehending this Logically certain 'axiomatic' fact. But again, I digress, this isn't about Geology, or Climate change, despite the allusion to these non sequitur - this is about Armadillos, right?
Armadillos migrate. Nothing stops their cute little feet from seeking food sources except the cold. They will go where they can to find food/shelter as long as the weather is warm enough. It has nothing to do with opinion's about climate - or opinion's about anything else for that matter. For example - there have been Armadillos in Southern Oregon my entire lifetime... I am an Oregon native. The Armadillos have yet to make it over the mountain range and into the much cooler Willamette Valley and I doubt they will because - the change in elevation gets to cold for Armadillos to survive that migration. Nonetheless, they've been in Oregon longer than my lifetime. Nothing unusual here.
Moreover, there's nothing abnormal about Armadillos in GA. I served in the United States Army in Georgia, Alabama, & Florida over 40 years ago. There were Armadillos all over the place. Armadillos have been found all along the 'sunbelt' of the Southern U.S. from the East coast to the West in my lifetime. Nothing unusual here.
Thank you for reminding us that despite how cute and seemingly harmless Armadillos are - they carry Leprosy, but deserve to exist unmolested, and we have great responsibility to protect them and all other animals. My parents always said - I would live in a menagerie of animals if I could. I have always liked animals more than people because animals don't lie or have opinions.
I hope you enjoy it!
Thank you so much for your detailed thoughts! I'll check out the books you mentioned - I love that books can take us to so many places we haven't yet been - your descriptions paint a very vivid picture! Glad you enjoyed the piece on armadillos :-)