Armadillos...
As I've mentioned previously, last summer I bought a house in Texas well, I finally got to see it a few weeks ago to celebrate my granddaughter's 1st birthday on St. Patricks day. It's a nice house in a place called Kyle Texas. Yes, I bought a house I didn't see, in a place I never heard of, I don't know why, I just did, OK? My wife and daughter and granddaughter seem to enjoy it, so I guess it worked out alright.
Well there is something tearing up the yard and such all around the house. The locals told me it's an armadillo. I wasn't there long enough to do anything about it and I'm living a thousand miles away(not sure I'm going to live there, its nice and all, but it's brown and flat...so)
There's a bunch of other stuff to, but this thing is driving my wife nuts.
SO, how does one get rid of, persuade to move on, vacate, vamos, etc. an armadillo? Forget Option 1, my daugher's a vegan. Yea, I know, but it takes all kinds to make a world.
Thanks
Armadillos...
I shoot 'em but I know not all wives and daughters are into that .. here's some other ideas ..
Armadillos...
Yea, that didn't work. My wife hired a guy to trap it(he came highly recommended) and he put traps around for a week or so and nothing. I don't know anything about these animals, never lived anywhere they do. He came and got the traps last week, and put some "armadillo repellent" all around. He said the critter has probably moved on. Sounds like a nice gig if you can get it!
One outfit she called wanted seven hundred bucks to get rid of it. Now I'm no expert mind you, and I have no idea what the going rate for an armadillo extraction is, but that seems to me to be a bit high. I mean, you can't really do anything with the hide, can you? And I don't think the meat's worth anything, although admittedly, I've never partaken, so I suppose it good be considered a delicacy?
At any rate, the thing's done quite a bit of damage.
Never trapped any
The .32-20 worked well ... .22 does also.
Armadillos...
You can try grub insecticide in your yard.
A 22cal PCP repeater air rifle that is moderated with an illuminated cross hair scope and a wife holding a spot light will work better.
Armadillos...
The meat is quite good, especially if you simmer it in coconut milk. The shell can be made into a charango, an Andean stringed instrument.
They are endangered in certain parts of S. America because they are quite good eating. Getting rid of them has never been a problem for me as the obvious way to do so is so easy. Trying to work around the sensibilities of folks who don't want to hurt the non-endangered pest complicates things somewhat. Get a good dog and have him run the critter to bay. Usually what happens is they start digging towards China. Grab the tail, haul it out of the hole (this takes considerable effort, by the way) and then haul that sucker off to the other side of the closest freeway. The next time it tries to head your way someone will whack it for you. A 'dillo's automatic response to being surprised is to jump straight up. Which is why so many get whacked by semi trucks. The kind driver tries to go over the critter without touching it. The critter jumps up, encounters the bottom of the vehicle and ricochets back down to the asphalt. They don't bite, but watch out for those claws. They'll dig a hole in you if you let them.
They dig around looking for worms, grubs and other edibles. Which makes them a nuisance to folks trying to raise a lawn in dry country as that's where the worms and grubs congregate, not out there in the semi-desert.
A Charango in use...
The pan flute drowns out much of it, but there's some bits where the charango sounds out nicely.
Armadillos...
Do not handle them without gloves or be sure to clean up with disinfectant very well after handling because they do carry leprocy. The shell is easy to skin away, it is the skin on the under side and legs that is the hardest part to skin out. The meat is great tasting and most people that do not know what they are eating think it is great. Then when they find out, sometimes the reaction is interesting. When shooting them, I try for the head. Even then, they can put on quite a show. Jumping, back flips, and running around in circles. Some just lay over dead. They mostly come at night to dig in your yard, but if you get up early in the morning you can catch them still foraging. Their vision is not the best, but if they do spot you they can run pretty fast.
The town of Kyle is just off I37 and has been there many years. Onion Creek runs along the north side of town and is nice when there is a year with normal rain fall. Just a short distance west of there is what is known as Hill Country. It is not flat.
Armadillos...
One cannot bait a trap for Armadillos the trap is scented with Armadillo and is open on both ends and placed along the pathway used by the Armadillo. The animal smells its own kind and goes into the trap hoping for love. One kills it inside the trap which re-"baits" the trap (cause the scent is the only "bait"). Traps were about $200 but still cheaper than hiring a professional. One might modify one's approach to certain aspects of the process due to one's sensibilities but otherwise this is the most efficient method of control.
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Sincerely,
Hobie
Armadillo memories...
A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, of three drunk lieutenants chasing one sober (I guess) armadillo across the cedar scrub of south Fort Hood. The 'diller got away.....
I'm not that hungry these days
But I have eaten a number of armadillos over the years.
These days, I shoot them and haul off the carcass. They dig holes to live in and I have had a horse step off into one (though we don't use horses these days).
Interesting critters, but they are destructive.