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On one of our visits to southern Missouri, we stayed at a beautiful wooded location with lots of privacy. It was a great place to wander around photographing the wildlife, including turkeys, a variety of birds and armadillos! I had never seen a live armadillo before, only those poor critters on the side of the road, so it was pretty exciting for me!

Armadillos.

The nine-banded armadillo is the only species of armadillo found in the United States, and is (obviously) unlike any other critter found in Missouri. When I first spotted this armadillo it was following its nose in search of dinner (aka burrow feeding). I was very curious, so I got quite close to the little creature and took lots of photographs.

I was mostly impressed with his "armor" — which I later found out consists of hardened plates of skin. There are two large plates with a series of 7-11 smaller moveable “girdles” or “bands” around the midsection. The head, short legs, and tail are covered with plates.* See my painting, above: Coat of Armor.

Armadillo Fun Facts.

• Nine-banded armadillos are nocturnal and spend their waking time burrowing or feeding. Insects and other invertebrates are located by the nose, which is held close to the ground. The sharp claws then dig to expose the food, which is flicked into the mouth with the long sticky tongue.
• Nine-banded armadillos almost always give birth to four identical quadruplets.
• This amazing animal can hold its breath for up to six minutes and can swim or “walk” along the bottom of rivers.
• About 2 1/2 feet long and 12-14 pounds, nine-banded armadillos typically live from 7 to 20 years in the wild.
• Nine-banded armadillos have a tendency to jump straight up into the air when they are startled, which often leads to their demise on highways. They are small enough that cars can pass right over them, but they leap up and hit the undercarriage of vehicles.
• Armadillos are the only animal other than humans that can contract leprosy, but cases of humans getting leprosy by handling armadillos are extremely rare.

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In every walk with nature one receives

far more than he seeks.

~John Muir

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Resident frog.
In early June we discovered this handsome frog in our backyard water feature. If I remember correctly, it was after an unusually heavy rainfall (when there was local flooding and we had a literal river running alongside our property). It seems the most likely explanation for how he got here.

I'm a little concerned that this little guy will remain single forever, but he seems content enough. Sometime we worry when we don't see him for days on end, but then he will reappear, cooling off in the moving water, or sunning himself on the rocks.

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But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish in the sea inform you.
Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
In his hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind.

~Job 12:7-10

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I think I'll be taking a break from painting wild critters. Back to birds and people!

Paint. Love. Repeat.

*Nine-Banded Armadillo information contained in this newsletter was found on the Missouri Department of Conservation and the National Wildlife Federation websites.