We were enjoying the walk, since the hotel was by a lake and you could see the fireworks from three parks, the day couldn’t have been going any better. To little for a gator, perhaps a raccoon. We went to investigate. We slowly crept closer and closer, till we understood it to be an armadillo. She was peacefully wondering through the shadow, beside the lake, enjoying her day walk too. Still no anxiety or concern from our woods friend. The father of my kids called them with him, to see the little woman in her natural habitat. The obedient offspring did as they were told and combined the stalking. They followed her to what seemed to be a burrow in the corner of a Cypress Tree. She became agitated and didn’t enter. Instead she turned and took note of our team, but wasn’t intimidated and to examine us. Crazy people do things which aren’t in their character when on holiday in Bird Removal, so my husband decided to show the kids how armadillo’s are like rolly polly bugs, assuring us it would roll up in a ball when antagonized. He picked up a stick and struck the brush. He threw a stone in her direction, she shrugged him off. To prove his point to his kids, he ran in the armadillo, expecting her to roll up and be still.
That armadillo ran in my husband so quickly, he dropped his flip flops hoping to get away. Having a pregnant wife and four children on his heels, we ran as far as we’re able and stopped. Well, here came the armadillo, following my husband, not us, hissing and spitting and creating unnatural noises I have never heard the likes of since.
When we finally made our way back to our condo (we forgo the elevator, no time when the armadillo was on our route), my husband made the profound observation,”Armadillo’s are less passive animals as I had been told”.