Armadillos skitter across Tennessee, along with rumors of leprosy

Armadillos are expanding their reach across Tennessee, ending up under tires and on the sides of interstates while raising fears about leprosy and other diseases.

But there's good news on several fronts: They're harmless to the environment, you can shoot, trap and kill them all you want, and your chances of getting leprosy are slim.

The great armadillo expansion isn’t limited to Tennessee. It’s a national trend that’s been happening for about 60 years.

Biologists and other wildlife experts continue to study the animal’s range, tracking it as far north as Chicago, as far west as Nebraska and along the east coast from Florida into Virginia, according to Roger Applegate, a biologist with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Read more: http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2017/10/13/armadillos-tennessee-leprosy-expansion/756374001/