Where Do Armadillos Live? Range Spreading North in the US

Where do armadillos live in the world?

All living armadillos are native to the Americas, and most species live in South America. They are found in rainforests, dry forests, savannas, grasslands, scrub and semi-deserts, from northern Mexico down to Patagonia in Argentina.

Some species have small ranges. The pink fairy armadillo lives only in the sandy plains of central Argentina, and the Brazilian three-banded armadillo only in the dry northeast of Brazil. Others are widespread. The nine-banded armadillo has one of the largest ranges of any armadillo, from Argentina and Uruguay north through South America east of the Andes, across Central America and Mexico, and into the United States. It also lives on the Caribbean islands of Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada.

In 2024, scientists proposed splitting the nine-banded armadillo into several species. Under that view, the armadillos of Mexico, Central America and the US form the northern nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus mexicanus). Many US agencies and guides still call the US animal the nine-banded armadillo, as we do in our nine-banded armadillo profile.

Where do armadillos live in the United States?

The nine-banded armadillo is the only armadillo found wild in the US. It is common across much of the South, and its range keeps growing.

Armadillos are mostly absent from the dry Southwest. Western Texas and New Mexico are near the western limit, because the soil is often too hard and dry and there are too few insects.

How armadillos spread north

Armadillos are newcomers to the United States. They crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico into southern Texas in the mid-1800s. Around the same time, they began spreading north and east across Texas.

A separate population started in Florida in the early 20th century, from animals that escaped from a zoo or were released by private owners in the 1920s. Florida armadillos spread across the peninsula and north into Georgia and Alabama. Over the following decades, the eastern and western populations met and merged.

The spread has been fast for a mammal of its size. Armadillos breed every year and almost always have four young at a time, as explained in do armadillos always have quadruplets? Young armadillos travel to find new territory, and they cross rivers by swimming or walking along the bottom. Few predators in the US are able to crack an adult’s armor.

What stops armadillos from spreading further north?

Cold is the main barrier. Armadillos have little body fat, a low body temperature for a mammal, and thin armor that does not keep heat in well. They do not hibernate. They also need soft ground to dig for insects, which is impossible when the soil is frozen.

Long spells of freezing weather can kill many armadillos, and harsh winters have pushed back the northern edge of their range in the past. Lack of rain is the other limit, which is why they are rare in the arid West. As winters become milder, many biologists expect the range to keep creeping north, and sightings are increasing in states such as Illinois and Indiana.

What habitat do armadillos need?

Nine-banded armadillos are adaptable. They live in forests, woodland edges, brush, grassland, farmland, parks and suburbs. What matters most is:

• Soft, diggable soil, such as sandy or loamy ground, for digging burrows and finding food.
• Plenty of insects, especially beetle grubs, ants and termites.
• Water nearby, such as creeks, rivers or ponds. Armadillos can swim and can even walk across the bottom of shallow streams.
• Cover, such as dense brush or woodland, where they can hide.

They are mostly active from dusk through the night, which is why many people never see one. You can find more after-dark animals in our list of nocturnal animals.

Do armadillos live in burrows?

Yes. A nine-banded armadillo digs several burrows within its home range, sometimes as many as 12. They are often in banks near creeks, under tree roots, or beneath brush. A burrow is usually about 20 cm (8 in) wide and can run up to about 7.5 m (25 ft) long and about 2 m (7 ft) deep, with a nest of leaves and grass inside.

Armadillos are solitary and do not share their burrows with other adults. But old burrows are reused by other animals, including skunks, rabbits, cotton rats, burrowing owls and snakes. In cold weather, armadillos stay underground and come out to feed in the warmer afternoon.