Gainesville Wildlife

Today we received a lot of rain. I missed most of it while I was sitting in my lab, which is on the ground floor of the hospital, for six hours or so today. Kristi and the girls were on campus with the girls acting as guinea pigs for med students learning how to interact with patients (particularly children). Anyway, after their appointment they came by the lab to pick me up and give me a ride home. We came home and got out of the car. Kristi said something like, "It sounds like there's a big animal over there," as she gestured toward the drainage swamp that's out our front door. I heard the noise too and walked over to investigate. The sound was coming from inside a tipped over garbage can. I looked inside and saw a Florida panther in there! Ok, just kidding, it was an armadillo. The poor thing had walked in there (maybe to get out of the rain, maybe because it was curious, maybe on a dare from another armadillo, maybe to get a drink of water) and couldn't get back out. It was trying so hard but its claws just didn't grip anything.

After making it suffer for a little bit more while I ran in and grabbed the camera so I could take some pictures and video, I tipped the garbage can and the armadillo slid out. It then sheepishly (or is it armadillo-ly?) walked away. Anwyn was excited that I was an animal rescuer just like Diego. I like to give animals (and people) the benefit of the doubt but when intelligence genes were being handed out the armadillos must have been practicing their 10 meter highway dash skills (which they are clearly still not very good at) instead of standing in line. The original armadillos must have been fans of Reaganomics and thought that it would apply to intelligence and genetically - it doesn't. Aside: armadillos jump straight up in the air when scared or startled, which doesn't bode well for the 10 pound critter when up is right into a 2000+ pound car traveling at more than 40 MPH.

Because it is quite fitting, I'm posting a poem I wrote a couple years ago (shortly after we moved to Florida) about an experience with an armadillo.

The day was new, the sun shone bright
When I saw the creature to my right.
She was scaly, she was on the ground
The critter was only looking down.
So I approached and paused to wait,
But in her movements she did not hesitate.
She looked for food, including bugs,
All the mammal wanted were tasty grubs.
I crept along, I drew near
But my walking she did not hear.
I made some noise, she finally saw
She contemplated, she wiggled her jaw.
And away she went, filled with woe,
That small inattentive armadillo.
They are cute and like the night
But alas, are not too bright.
Now I know why every day,
Dead armadillos adorn the highway.

Here is a picture and some video of the event.

Note: At one point in the video (when I lift up the garbage can) it sounds like I'm really straining or having a heart attack or something like that - I wasn't, the camera's microphone was just right up by my mouth so my breathing sounds really loud and labored. :)