Singleton wonders in 1976 if mankind will witness 'armadillo's return'

Nine-banded armadillo. 

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Will mankind witness armadillo’s return?” was originally published in the March 25, 1976 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

Many years ago, when the world was young, the armadillo roamed the vast areas of the earth. He was at that time much larger than he is today.

Down through the ages, because of the climatic changes and other happenings that have altered our environment, the armadillo has become what he is today.

Years ago he migrated to the west, following the warmer climate, where he is best fitted. This is due to his diet, which is made up of insects, earthworms, spiders and land snails.

Due to the location of his small teeth, well to the rear of his mouth, he must have this special diet for survival. And, too, he cannot use his teeth to bite his enemy in self-defense.

Best protection

The small, bony plates in the upper skin offer the best protection for the armadillo. These plates are fitted close together and jointed across the armadillo’s back. This jointing allows him to curl up in a hard, tight ball with the hard shell on the outside.

Few animals are able to get a grip on the hard shell with their teeth or claws. But strangely enough, he uses his armor only as a last resort.

With his strong claws, he can dig a tunnel in the ground within seconds. At the first sign of danger, he hurries to his burrow – or if he is too far away, he digs himself into the ground.

The armadillos of this area grow to about two feet long, including the tail. Their weight when grown averages around 15 pounds. Their flesh is edible although it carries a peculiar odor unlike almost anything you can imagine.

Nine bands

The so-called nine-banded armadillo is the only kind found in this area of the United States. The hinges of its shell consist of nine narrow bands of armor, which slide on one another.

Armadillos found in countries south of the United States have three or six bands across their backs instead of the nine found here.

The female armadillo gives birth to four babies at a time. These are always of the same sex. This unusual characteristic never varies. Nature is stubborn in many respects.

With the changing of our climate toward the warmer side, once again the small, odd-looking creature begins his northward trek.

Ever onward

He will follow this course for maybe a few hundred years, moving ever onward, slowly but surely. Then one day he will reverse his course and start southward again, ahead of the great glacier.

Will his second passing be witnessed by man, as his northward trek is now? Or will he pass in the silent, still world that man has separated himself from – taken from earth on the mighty winds of oblivion.

Only time will tell.

(This column was also accompanied by a photo of an armadillo, taken by Singleton, that carried the following caption: Full-grown armadillo found in Monroe County area.)

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born during a late-night thunderstorm on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)