Chicago, IL – Armadillos, long associated with Texas and the southern U.S., are steadily pushing north through the Midwest and could reach Chicago and other northern cities within five to 10 years, according to researchers at the Field Museum.
According to Anderson Feijó, assistant curator of mammals at the museum, the animals have already been spotted in southern Illinois, and environmental DNA testing indicates they may be present in Kankakee County. The nine-banded armadillo — the only species found in the U.S. — has expanded its range for decades, crossing the Rio Grande in the 1800s and slowly migrating north through Missouri, Arkansas and now into Illinois.
Experts say the movement is aided by warming winters, which allow the animals to survive in regions once thought too cold or snow-covered for them to thrive. Armadillos have also adapted their diet to include roots and fruits in addition to insects, improving their chances of survival in new habitats…