Armadillos in Illinois? SIU tracks them here

CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) - The northward migration of a mammal more commonly associated with Texas, Florida and other warm-weather states is the subject of new research by a Southern Illinois University zoologist.

The (Carbondale) Southern Illinoisan (bit.ly/223MqOF ) reports that SIU associate professor F. Augustin Jimenez will focus on parasites carried by the migrating nine-banded armadillo.

Jimenez says he will also examine the animals' hibernation methods.

Armadillos have been spotted in Illinois as far north of Mount Vernon.