08/14/2026
Yesterday, we received an unusual call from one of our Community Members.
She informed us that she had some kind of animal digging in her yard. My immediate thought was, "Please don't let it be a badger..." due to their reputation of waking up in the morning and being angry at the entire world for existing.
Much to my surprise, the uninvited mystery excavator was none other than "Marcus" the Armadillo. He intended to move in under the flowerbed of our Community Member's house, and Officer Turner and I refused to let that happen.
Marcus made us work for it, however. He had already begun to tear up the landscaping, trying to make his new vacation home more to his liking. Did you know that armadillos often have between five and ten burrows they maintain? These burrows can be up to seven feet deep and twenty feet long!
After moving a heavy planter and some quick shovel work by Officer Turner, Marcus was plucked from his dining room and safely deposited into the bed of a patiently waiting Ford F150 Police Responder. Marcus was then politely escorted to the city limits and shooed into an open field.
Here are a few quick (and mostly fun) armadillo facts while you watch Marcus' eviction.
-Armadillos hunt pests! They spend most of their time digging for insects, grubs, and other yummy underground snacks.
-Armadillos have poor eyesight! They compensate for this with an excellent sense of smell.
-Armadillos are excellent jumpers! When startled, armadillos can spring several feet straight into the air. Very impressive with all of their natural armor!
-They can absolutely DESTROY your yard. Marcus, while well-intentioned, fair-mannered, and generally "cute," could have caused a lot of damage to our Community Member's property.
Marcus was given a stern warning for his trespassing and sent on his way to find adventure somewhere a little more appropriate. Seattle has Jimothy the Raccoon; we have Marcus the Armadillo.
We hope you enjoy the video!
-Chief Smith
