Potential Distribution of Colonizing Nine-Banded Armadillos at Their Northern Range Edge

The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) has become a recent addition to the local fauna of Illinois as response habitat alteration and climate change. This range expansion resulted in presence armadillos areas not predicted by earlier models. Although these models have been revised, continue move north reached heavy agricultural use. We identified conditions that favor potential corridors for dispersal. Identifying distribution is vital step anticipating their arrival containing potentially sensitive wildlife populations habitats. Armadillo locations (n = 37) collected during 2016–2020 were used develop map southern Illinois. Environmental data layers included model land cover type, distance water, forest edge, human modification, climactic variables. Land type was most important contributing variable model. Our results are consistent with tenet activity dispersal centered around riparian areas, forested may provide an mosaic.