The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) has become a species of local abundance in many southeastern habitats and is viewed as a nuisance and invasive by many land managers. My objective was to examine both negative and positive effects of armadillos on the Georgia coastal islands by 1) quantifying armadillo predation of sea turtle nests and comparing it to other predators; and 2) quantifying behavior and activity of commensal burrow species. I recorded 33 armadillo burrow associates, including 26 species not previously reported in the literature and multiple species of conservation concern. This research provides a data-driven basis for management of armadillos and provides a template for objectively evaluating the ecosystem effects of other “invasive” species.
