Are you ready to see a new critter? Armadillos are moving toward Michiana

INDIANA (WSBT) — You’ve probably seen raccoons and opossums, but what about armadillos?

The hard-shell mammal has officially made its way into the Hoosier state and into our area!

When you think of armadillos, you might think of Texas or Tennessee, but now you can add Indiana to the list.

While growing populations are seen down south, they are also being seen right here in Michiana.

Raccoons, opossums, and now armadillos!

The hard-shell mammal is making its way North.

“So, It’s strange to think of them being here in Indiana, but their presence in Indiana means that things have changed. The climate has changed in Indiana,” said Brad Westrich, Indiana DNR State Mammalogist Indiana DNR.

There are armadillos at the Potawatomi Zoo, but wild ones have been spotted in Elkhart County and LaPorte County.

However, the ones seen in Indiana are not the same ones you’ll see at the zoo.

The zoo is home to three-banded armadillos, while the ones found in the wild are nine-banded armadillos.

“They’re a little bit bigger, a little bit bigger, and they do have between like seven and eleven bands, it’s not always exactly nine, but they have more bands and they have more of a leathery shell,” said Amanda Brunson-Cruz, Potawatomi Zoo Education Curator and armadillo enthusiast.

One armadillo has been seen near Michigan City, and in Elkhart County, one was seen near Millersburg, and another one was spotted north of Goshen in 2024.

Despite harsh winters, the armadillos can survive.

“They don’t migrate or anything like that. And in order to survive harsh winter climates, they’re going to burrow underground. And that’s what they do anywhere they go,” said Westrich.

Some people are concerned about the armadillos because they can carry the bacterium that causes leprosy.

But Westrich is not concerned.

“And so far, we haven’t had any results on that, but it’s very rare in North America. We don’t suspect that we’ll have it here in Indiana anytime soon,” said Westrich.

Those WSBT spoke with shared the excitement over the newest mammal calling the Hoosier state home.

“It’s very unique to have this animal sort of expanding into areas that we didn’t think they could ever get into, Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan, that’s crazy. But enjoy the observation, take photos, video if you can,” said Westrich.

The DNR is asking anyone who spots an armadillo to report it.