Wildlife officials say armadillos have shifted from a rare curiosity to an established presence in parts of western North Carolina. Populations have been confirmed in eight mountain counties, prompting concerns about property damage, impacts on fragile native ecosystems, and ticks that may carry serious illnesses.
Here’s what to know
As WLOS reported, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission said the first confirmed sighting in the state was in Macon County in 2007, with Henderson County following in 2008. Part of what the region is seeing stems from the species’ long movement north from Central America.
A state range-expansion report covering 2007 through 2024 showed western North Carolina had the most confirmed sightings. Established populations in the region have been documented in Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Swain, and Transylvania counties.
Steve Pettis, NC Cooperative Extension agent for Henderson County, said the state is in the buildup phase…