11/12/2025
🦔 Armadillos in the Smokies?
Yes — you read that right! The nine-banded armadillo has officially made its way into Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Once thought to be strictly warm-weather creatures, armadillos have proven surprisingly adaptable. Sightings have now been recorded everywhere from Cades Cove to Newfound Gap, and researchers are studying how these tough little diggers are adjusting to our high-elevation winters.
Scientists are also watching to see what role they’ll play in the ecosystem here in the mountains — and what it means for the wildlife we already know and love. There’s still a lot we don’t know about their behavior in this region, which is why every observation matters. More info at www.smliv.com
📸 See one?
Snap a photo (from a safe distance — they can jump when startled!) and upload it to iNaturalist to help ongoing research.
