Baby armadillo added to exhibition near Cape Coral

  • 2017-06-06
The CROW Visitor Education Center on Sanibel, near Cape Coral, has a new, charming member.

Billy, a two or three-month-old armadillo, has been bringing smiles to people's faces since he joined the live animal exhibit at the animal rescue and hospital.

The staff at the CROW Visitor Education Center has guessed Billy's age based on his size and when armadillos usually breed in that part of the US. They think that he most likely wandered off from his mother and got lost.

Armadillos aren't a native species in Florida, so the center isn't able to release Billy back into the wild. They are going to keep him and use him as a tool to teach visitors about the species. Educational centers can use printing services to create information packets about the animals that they feature in their exhibits.

So far, Billy seems happy in his new home. He has a cage full of snuggle blankets and area where he can dig and burrow. He's able to dig for crickets and worms in mulch, which helps him learn how to forage and find his food. He does get access to the outdoors from time to time, where he can dig in the dirt freely.

People interested in seeing Billy can sign up for the center's Wildlife Walks and Hospital Tours. The tours are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the morning and cost $20 per person.