On a recent day in my Arkansas yard, I watched a young Nine-banded Armadillo foraging through the grass. It moved slowly but deliberately, using its keen sense of smell to search for food. As I followed it quietly with my camera, it unearthed an earthworm and began to eat. I managed to photograph the moment mid-snack, with the curled worm still hanging from its mouth.
Natural Feeding Behavior of Nine-Banded Armadillos
This juvenile armadillo offered a clear example of how these animals feed in the wild. While they eat a wide variety of insects, grubs, and other invertebrates, earthworms are a favored source of protein. The armadillo’s long snout and sensitive nose help it detect movement underground. Once located, it digs quickly with its sharp claws and snatches the prey with its sticky tongue.
Observing Young Armadillos Up Close in My Yard
It’s always rewarding to observe wildlife like this so close to home. This young armadillo didn’t appear to notice me as I stood quietly nearby. It was completely focused on foraging, moving methodically through the lawn. These moments are not only fun to photograph but also provide insight into the everyday lives of these often misunderstood animals.
Camera Gear and Settings
To photograph this armadillo, I used the Canon EOS R5 Mark II paired with the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens. My settings were:
- Aperture: ƒ/10
- Focal Length: 100.0 mm
- Shutter Speed: 1/1250
- ISO: 2000
- Exposure Mode: Manual
- Exposure Compensation: 0
These settings helped me freeze the action while maintaining sharp focus and detail.
Additional Nine-Banded Armadillo Behavior Observations
This wasn’t my first encounter with armadillos in my yard, but this was one of the most detailed views I’ve had of their feeding habits. The armadillo I photographed with the earthworm is one of four I wrote about in an earlier blog post: Baby Nine-Banded Armadillos in My Yard.
Update on Armadillo Species Name
Since this post was originally published, scientists have reclassified the armadillos found in Arkansas and Oklahoma. What was once identified as the Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) in this article is now recognized as a separate species called the Mexican Long-Nosed Armadillo (Dasypus mexicanus).
The animal in these photos has not changed. Our understanding of its genetics has.
You can read the full explanation of this name change here: Mexican Long-Nosed Armadillo: The Nine-Banded Name Change
What fun to see the Armadillo pictures you posted. I saw my first one in Texas many years ago. I never thought much about what eat such as earthworms. Thanks for the information. They are cute little critters.