The Lowly Armadillo: An Unlikely Hero
Maybe Armadillos Aren’t As Bad As You Think They Are
I didn’t think moving from Minnesota to Missouri would be all that different. Sure, the landscape here is a bit hillier than what I was used to, and winters are way less brutal than having my face frozen off from November to April every year. One thing I was not prepared for, though, is a certain creature that has suddenly become the bane of my existence. It’s an ugly little devil. An armored tank that plows through anything in its way.
I’m speaking, of course, about the armadillo.
Sheesh. You’d have thought I’d moved to Texas, but no. These miniature tillers are rampant in southwest Missouri and are intent on rooting up all my gardens. Rotten things!
There are, however, a few benefits to them. They aerate the soil in their unceasing hunt for bugs. And speaking of bugs, they do keep down the insect population somewhat. I’m also told they are useful for seed dispersal. But what else could they possibly be good for?
Now there’s a great question, one that I pondered for my upcoming release, The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane. In that story, hero Jackson Forge is about as fond of armadillos as I am, but he’s got one living in his house so he has no choice but to make peace with it. His wife Kit is fond of the little fellow, and good thing too. Without giving away too much, let’s just say Brooks the armadillo saves the day. How can a lowly armadillo be such a hero?
Well, you’ll have to read the story to find out. Preorder your copy HERE or try your hand at winning a signed copy in the following contest.
And as a side note for those of you who associate armadillos with leprosy…yes, indeed, some armadillos do carry the bacteria for leprosy, which nowadays is called Hansen’s disease. It is not the same dreaded leprosy as in Biblical times, however. Research does confirm that a particular species of armadillo which is native to the southern United States and Mexico can carry mycobacterium leprae, but not all do.
So rest assured, the armadillo Jackson and Kit house is leprosy free.