Reposted from @yaleenvironment360 Armadillos are pushing northward as temperatures rise. Scientists believe that climate change has expanded their range by producing milder winters, allowing them to comfortably inhabit new areas, including, most recently, parts of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. Armadillos originated in South America, and have long been common in Texas, where they are the state’s official small mammal. Now, they are reaching as far north as Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa, with little to halt their advance. Able to hold their breath for six minutes at a time, armadillos can cross rivers by walking along the bottom or by inflating their intestines and floating across the top. Their hard shell protects them from predators, and they reproduce prolifically, with females giving birth to quadruplets multiple times over the course of their lives. #TheEnvironmentalBoy #southamerica #armadillo #armadillolizard #northcarolina #climatechange Photo Credit: National Park Service https://www.instagram.com/p/CW2YGEHNBVF/?utm_medium=tumblr