If you live in a rural area, or simply just closer to nature, wildlife visitors are no strange sight. It’s a pleasure to see them, and they’re mostly always welcome to drop by. But, here’s one first-time visitor that didn’t want to leave, and the cute little thing seems to be quite chuffed with its newfound backyard.
Tammy Yarber came across an adorable sight one day in her backyard, in the southwest of the United States, and uploaded the footage to YouTube.
She didn’t know what it was at first, but noticed the little creature splashing about in a puddle
On closer inspection, she found it was a baby armadillo.
“Found this guy alone in the backyard, looking for water,” wrote Yarber. “Adorable!”
Normally, armadillo mothers would stay with their babies, but sadly this one’s mom was nowhere to be seen. It’s presumed it’s orphaned, as it was all alone.
“I searched for his mother and brothers numerous times, but I couldn’t find them anywhere. I found some small, empty burrows,” wrote Yarber
This baby armadillo, appropriately nicknamed “Dilly,” had wondered into this Yarber’s backyard for some water to drink, all by itself.
This was no silly dilly, as it was already quite independent to venture out on its own from its burrow.
It still, however, needed a helping hand, and its human companion was more than happy to help it find some yummy bugs, ants, and cleaner water to drink
A little wobbly on its feet, the scaly little creature took a liking to its new human companion.
“You’re so cute!” she tells Dilly, in a video uploaded to Rumble.
“You can stay in my yard for as long as you want”
The tiny armadillo was so little that it only took a finger to pat it.
Dilly seemed to like all the attention
“You finding enough ants to eat?” the lady asks it.
“There’ve got to be some ants around here, huh Dilly?”
“He looks for her now when he hears her voice,” reads an article on Rumble
The article further adds: “Although your first instinct might be to rescue a wild animal you find in your backyard, or anywhere else for that matter, it might be the smartest choice to call a professional handler and rehabilitator to pick up the animal. Especially if it a young individual like this.”
Whilst Dilly made his first appearance about two years ago, we did notice some comments from Yarber indicating that he didn’t make it.
“Armadillos are on the Do Not Rescue list in GA, which is why I had a hard time finding him help. I assure, I made great effort to keep this guy alive,” she wrote. “I couldn’t save him, but I take comfort in the fact that he didn’t die cold and alone.”
Whilst news of Dilly’s passing wasn’t taken well by some, other YouTubers defended Yarber’s decision to look after the little creature during its remaining time
Watch Dilly here:
Credit: NTD