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The shelters were also occupied by the living, who made tools and cooked, evidenced by the buried bones of armadillos, deer and a type of rodent called a paca, Dr. Prufer said.

“There was this one time when he went to prepare the paca” — she stuck her tongue out and panted — “and it was so hot!”

Monteza believes the highway research could help push authorities to create wildlife crossings for armadillos, the rodents known as lowland pacas and agoutis, and other animals.

In 2011, the hunters were suddenly far more efficient at catching the animals, almost doubling the amount of paca meat they could catch in 1 hour.

All the volunteer firefighters report seeing terrified and burned animals: pacas, wild pigs, armadillos, tapirs and many bird species.