Question for you Texicans (Armadillo)

Twogun · #1 04/18/06, 04:38 PM

this past month I have seen 2 Armadillos on the back end of my place. It seems like I've heard they can be very destructible. So far they haven't made it to the house or garden, but in case they do, what is the best way to get rid of them. I'm not averse to shooting them and I do have a live trap in case they get in my garden without me seeing them. Any good baits that can be used?

Bubba Can Dance · #2 04/18/06, 05:20 PM

We lived in Texas for several years but now live back in MS. Armadillos have migrated to MS and are a big problem. They will tear a yard to pieces, destroy a garden and ruin a pasture digging burroughs. We have two outside dogs that keep them away from the house and garden but we have holes all over our pasture. The only sure fire thing we have found for them is a steady hand when you pull the trigger.

wilded · #3 04/18/06, 05:25 PM

.22 longrifle.

Maggiemoo · #4 04/19/06, 12:05 AM

There were so many years that we didn't see any at all, that I can't bring myself to kill one. As a child I remember seeing them all the time, especially on the road squashed!! You know why the chicken crossed the road, right? Of course, to get to the other side. But do you know why the chicken crossed the road in Texas? To show the Armadillo it could be done!! My favorite joke as a kid.

Yes, they are destructive little beasts, but I would love to see them come back. Even if I did get chased through the woods by one a few weeks ago, but that's a different story.

Alice In TX/MO · #5 04/19/06, 06:20 AM

As a Texan living part time in Southern Missouri, I can tell you that the armadillos are definately here. Yes, they are destructive, if you consider little tennis ball sized holes in your yard a problem. They are digging for grubs. We have raised bed gardens with boards around them, and the dillos can's step high enough to get in. Short little stubby legs, you know.

You can't trap them with a baited trap, but if you line up 2x6's (on edge) in a V, with the trap at the apex, they might bumble into the trap. They don't see very well, and they will follow the board. At least, I've been told that. Never have made it work.

Be forewarned that their defense mechanism is to jump straight up in the air. That's partly why you see so many mashed on the road. A car may dodge the dillo and be passing over it, and the dumb dillo, perceiving that something is going on, jumps straight up, smacking his little self into the bottom of a speeding vehicle. I think internal combustion engine driven vehicles are the only natural predator for armadillos.

If you do a Google search on armadillo control, you will see a variety of suggestions. The most valuable ones are 1) shooting them and 2) eliminating their food source by spraying pesticides on your yard. The choice is up to you.

The whole Missouri armadillo problem began, you know, when Lone Star beer was exported from Texas to Missouri. Armadillos have been chasing Lone Star trucks for decades in Texas, and they followed them north.

Twogun · #6 04/19/06, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rose

The whole Missouri armadillo problem began, you know, when Lone Star beer was exported from Texas to Missouri. Armadillos have been chasing Lone Star trucks for decades in Texas, and they followed them north.

LOL
Thanks Rose

That Lone Star beer is pretty rank (reminds me of Grainbelt beer) and is about as desirable as the Armadillos.

whiterock · #7 04/19/06, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twogun

LOL
Thanks Rose

That Lone Star beer is pretty rank (reminds me of Grainbelt beer) and is about as desirable as the Armadillos.

I beg to differ.

Country Doc · #8 04/19/06, 08:32 AM

12 gauge, bird shot.

Firethorn · #9 04/19/06, 10:29 AM

Dogs.

Cyngbaeld · #10 04/19/06, 02:08 PM

Had a standard doxy once that cleared all the dillos off my place and all the land around us. He went down in the burrows.

OD · #11 04/19/06, 02:41 PM

I guess the armadillos are going the way of bob-whites, road runners, whip-poor-wills, toads, terrapins, & even ticks. I haven't seen a live one in several years.
Maybe they are just leaving here to get away from the fire ants.
The trouble is, that they are being replaced by HUGE water bugs, hoards of beetles that eat all the leaves off the trees, Mexican buzzards, & wolves.
I think these beetles are favorite armadillo food while they are still grubs in the ground, & the shortage of armadillos allows too many to live.
Anyway, I hope the fire ants aren't following the armadillos up to Missouri.

Jan Doling · #12 04/19/06, 03:38 PM

The danger is in breaking your leg if you fall into one of the holes. Another danger is they can transmit leprosy to humans.

I like the description a child gave when he saw one as road-kill and misunderstood his mama's pronunciation:
"Oh," he nodded and repeated, "armoured jello".

Jethro · #13 04/19/06, 05:35 PM

Try a .22 short, much less noise than long rifle and still does the job.

Columbia,SC. · #14 04/19/06, 09:43 PM

http://www.msu.edu/~nixonjos/armadillo/research.html
Just cook it well done and you will be fine!
Columbia,SC.

dare2b · #15 04/19/06, 10:05 PM

If you don't want to use pesticides to get rid of the grubs, a twice-yearly (fall and spring) application of beneficial nematodes will do the job. No grubs, no armadillos. Takes a couple of years to show results.

posifour11 · #16 04/20/06, 02:01 AM

my first thought was drive around your pasture, but lacking that, i'd say shoot em. aim a tad high if you are any distance away, they jump quick.

Twogun · #17 04/20/06, 06:08 AM

OK, thanks for all the good tips, everyone. I drove in to springfield yesterday and saw two fresh roadkill along the road. This Armadillo problem has become dire and drastic steps need to be taken! So, I've decided to hire a Lone Star truck and driver to take a load to Whiterock's house, in hopes that the Armadillos will all follow

Alice In TX/MO · #18 04/20/06, 06:13 AM

I hadn't thought about the fire ants being the demise of armadillos in Texas, but now you mention it, it makes perfect sense. We have fire ants in my little bend of the Gulf Coast, and very few dillos, quail, ticks, chiggers, wild bunnies, etc.

Just want you to know, however, I've been mulling over a plan to import fire ants to Missouri to battle the ticks. Just haven't figured out how to transport the durn things in my van and arrive alive.

Twogun · #19 04/20/06, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by posifour11

my first thought was drive around your pasture.

HA! HA!

Duh! It took a second reading of your post before I "got" your sarcasm. Very funny.

Rowdy · #20 04/20/06, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OD

I guess the armadillos are going the way of bob-whites, road runners, whip-poor-wills, toads, terrapins, & even ticks. I haven't seen a live one in several years.
.

I've only seen a couple of 'dillos in the last couple of year, but I have all the rest at my place. There is a roadrunner that lives on my place up near the road. Sometimes I'll be doing something near the house and look over to see him staring intently on whatever I'm doing. I enjoy his company more than some people I know. :-)