Well, sorta. However Illinois is now home to the unexpected guests…armadillos. A new study at Southern Illinois University is investigating the curious case.
One species, the nine banded armadillo, is moving northward and getting as far as Mount Vernon in South Central Illinois.
Experts said the warmer and shorter winters might be helping the leathery-shelled mammal might be helping the little guys survive farther North. Armadillos only eat insects and with no natural predators in the area, the nine banded armadillo population is actually increasing rapidly.
There are 23 different species of armadillo in the southern hemisphere. However, only the nine banded armadillo is migrating northward.
