Life hasn’t always been a day in the sun for Chip, a 12-pound armadillo now making his home at the Tallahassee Museum.
The nine-banded mammal was the only member of his family safely rescued in Miami when it was discovered that a culprit had poured gasoline in a burrow and torched it, killing other members of the brood. In 2024, he was brought to his new home at the sprawling grounds in southwest Tallahassee.
But today, that’s all changed: His fixation on playing inside a kiddie pool has gone viral, capturing over 14 million growing views on Facebook and 2.4 million on Instagram as of Tuesday afternoon.
The comment sections were flooded with warm responses, describing him as “wholesome” and “look at my dude living his best life! Literally made my day.”
The 18-second video captures Chip joyfully prancing around in his small splash pad, making him an internet sensation among children and families – and drawing a surge of visitors eager to see him in person.
”It was his first time using that particular splash pad, and he absolutely loved it,” said Allison Ashcroft, the museum’s director of programs and one of Chip’s main handlers.
“We were all pleasantly surprised that it went viral since we try to put out animal content pretty regularly. So to have such a positive reaction from the public was great to see.”
Chip is a regular participant in the museum’s daily animal interactions, which take place at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and on weekends at 3:30 p.m.
Following the video’s release, Ashcroft noted a significant increase in attendance during Chip’s appearances, with some visitors specifically requesting to see him. On July 10 and July 12, over 50 people showed up to meet him prior to the 2025 Swamp Stomp Music Festival.
“We’ve heard stories now where, if people see an armadillo in the wild, they immediately go, ‘there’s Chip,’ ” Ashcroft said. “So, they’re seeing a wild armadillo and making a connection with ours here. That kind of public connection is exactly what we hope for with our ambassador animals.”
According to the Animal Diversity Web, nine-banded armadillos tend to be most active when it’s cooler and will navigate streams or rivers by either swimming or walking underwater. (Its name in Spanish means “little armored one.”) They have the ability to hold their breath for up to six minutes and can inflate their intestines to aid in floating during the warmer months.
The animal’s presence also has sparked conversations about how often wildlife is misunderstood. While many see armadillos as pests, museum educators emphasize their contributions to pest control and their calm, harmless demeanor. Opposed to common misconceptions, armadillos pose no threat to humans and are unlikely to be harmful.
Miriam Olivera-Burr, a wildlife rehabilitator from Miami known as “Possum_Possee” on Instagram, discovered Chip. She told museum officials Chip managed to survive the tragedy but endured chemical burns on his shell and body.
Following six months of rehabilitation, it was decided he had become too accustomed to humans to be safely returned to the wild..
“He had a severe past, but he’s incredibly upbeat and expressive,” said Jessica Wackes, director of marketing for the Tallahassee Museum. “His name comes from a chip in his shell, but it fits him perfectly—he’s such an upbeat, happy animal.”
He was brought to the museum to be nurtured, providing him with a permanent residence and a new position as an animal ambassador. The museum frequently collaborates with rehabilitators to offer a secure environment for animals while also utilizing these experiences to educate the public.
Despite not having his own social media account, Chip might just be Tallahassee’s most beloved influencer thanks to his fun spirit and expanding fan base.
Tallahassee Democrat writer Joel Mitchell can be reached at jmitchell@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Move over, influencers: Chip the Armadillo at the Tallahassee Museum goes viral
Reporting by Joel Mitchell / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
