There are probably plenty of things police officers expect to deal with during a shift. Evicting an armadillo named Marcus from the beginnings of his underground vacation home probably isn’t very high on that list.
That’s exactly the situation officers with the Ellis Police Department in Kansas found themselves dealing with after a resident reported that something had been digging up her yard. Chief Smith initially had one concern when the call came in: “Please don’t let it be a badger.”
Instead, officers discovered an armadillo that had apparently picked the resident’s flowerbed as the perfect location for his newest piece of real estate. Police quickly dubbed their unexpected suspect “Marcus,” although he wasn’t particularly interested in cooperating with his eviction.
By the time Chief Smith and Officer Turner arrived, Marcus had already begun tearing into the landscaping and digging beneath a heavy planter. Unfortunately for him, the Ellis Police Department wasn’t about to let him finish moving in.
Officers Dig Out “Marcus” Before Giving Him a Ride Out of Town
Please give the video a second to load completely.
By the time officers arrived, Marcus had already begun tearing up the landscaping while attempting to establish his newest burrow. The department noted that armadillos can maintain multiple burrows, which can become surprisingly large beneath the ground.
Getting Marcus out required officers to move a heavy planter before Officer Turner did some digging of his own with a shovel. Eventually, police managed to pull the armadillo from what Chief Smith jokingly called his “dining room.”
Marcus was then placed in the bed of a Ford F-150 Police Responder for what might be one of the stranger rides anyone has received from the Ellis Police Department. Officers transported him to the city limits before releasing him into an open field where his digging talents would hopefully cause a little less trouble.
Police joked that Marcus received a “stern warning” for trespassing before being sent on his way. The department also shared several facts about armadillos, including that they primarily dig for insects and grubs, have poor eyesight but an excellent sense of smell, and can jump several feet into the air when startled.
The homeowner’s biggest concern, however, was the damage Marcus could have caused if his construction project had continued. While the department described its newest acquaintance as cute and generally well-mannered, armadillos can make a mess of landscaping through their constant digging.
Comments Quickly Fall in Love With “Marcus the Armadillo”
The police department’s post naturally left commenters entertained by the fact that the unwanted visitor had been given a name. One person loved that he was now officially known as Marcus, while another hoped he enjoyed the “new digs” officers found for him — pun very much intended.
Others had questions about whether Marcus received the full law enforcement treatment. One commenter jokingly asked whether he had his insurance and registration, while another suggested officers should “take him downtown.” Someone else was simply relieved to learn that armadillo helmets apparently wouldn’t become standard-issue equipment for Ellis police officers anytime soon.
Several people thanked the officers for relocating Marcus rather than harming him. Others shared their own experiences with armadillos digging up yards and warned that the animals can be surprisingly persistent, with some commenters wondering whether Marcus might eventually find his way back to his newly abandoned home.
For now, Marcus appears to have escaped criminal charges and received what amounts to an armadillo-sized trespass warning. Whether he actually respects the city limits or begins plotting his return to that flowerbed is another question entirely.