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Author Topic: How to kill armadillos????  (Read 21536 times)

Offline Intheswamp

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How to kill armadillos????
« on: April 23, 2014, 04:39:57 am »
Nope, I don't want to catch them and relocate'em...why cause somebody else a problem and besides...I want'em dead....D.E.A.D.....dead.  Ok, so it's gotten personal...my yard is beginning to look like Flanders Field at the end of WWI.  I've got three places around the yard that they're basically bottom plowing.  I'm sitting up tonight with a twelve gauge pump and making a round every hour...so far nothing.  I'm thinking they must be hitting during the pre-dawn hours.  So, JP..Schawee...some of you varmits removers....got any tips for me?  

If I find the burrow what should I do to irradicate them there?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Ed
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American blood spilled to protect the freedom and peace of people all over the world.  320,000 USA casualties in WWI, 1,076,000 USA casualties in WWII, 128,000 USA casualties in the Korean War, 211,000 casualties in the Vietnam "conflict", 57,000 USA casualties in "War on Terror".  Benghazi, Libya, 13 USA casualties. These figures don't include 70,000 MIA.  But, the leaders of one political party of the United States of America continue to make the statement..."What difference does it make?".

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."..."The press is our chief ideological weapon." - Nikita Khrushchev

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Offline Intheswamp

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2014, 05:01:16 am »
Mighty foggy tonight and a red crescent moon rising...smells a little smokey outside (or is it where I dumped my smoker?)  Seeing plenty of deer but no armored possums...<sigh>

Ed
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American blood spilled to protect the freedom and peace of people all over the world.  320,000 USA casualties in WWI, 1,076,000 USA casualties in WWII, 128,000 USA casualties in the Korean War, 211,000 casualties in the Vietnam "conflict", 57,000 USA casualties in "War on Terror".  Benghazi, Libya, 13 USA casualties. These figures don't include 70,000 MIA.  But, the leaders of one political party of the United States of America continue to make the statement..."What difference does it make?".

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."..."The press is our chief ideological weapon." - Nikita Khrushchev

"Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they wont come to yours." - Yogi Berra

Offline Redbug

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #2 on: April 23, 2014, 03:11:09 pm »
Are you sure you don't have hogs? Armadillos usually dig a triangularish hole, not too big.
Dave

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Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #3 on: April 23, 2014, 10:37:02 pm »
I agree. Hogs.
Jim
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Offline Joe D

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2014, 01:41:56 am »
I like to take care of them with a 7.62 by 39 hollow point round.  Haven't seen one on my place in a while.  I got one a couple of years ago with that round, the biggest piece was about 2".  Good luck    Have stuck em with a broad head too, but you have to be quick they will bend your arrow.




Joe

Offline Intheswamp

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2014, 01:50:25 am »
Nah, these are armadillos.  Maybe the bottom plowing is a little over the top in my description...I'll reduce that to a garden tiller. :-x  They are small holes...from maybe a couple of inches in diameter to seven or eight inches....4-5 inches deep mostly.  Not hog holes....but there's hundreds of the holes, and there lies the problem.  

I'll be glad to get them in my sights... :jerry:

As for hogs they are in the area but not *here*......yet.  :-x

Joe, the 7.62 sounds good....actually a baseball bat would work if I could get close enough.  The first one I ever saw was probably 35 years ago on Alabama Highway 10 just east of Camden, Alabama.  I saw it standing beside the road and figured I'd stop and check it out.  I picked up a stick figuring it would "curl into a ball" and I would need to "poke it".  Well, I squatted down about 10' from it and was watching it watch me.  I still had the stick in my hand and made a slight movement...that possum-on-the-half-shell took off running like a fullback and busted the overgrown fencerow when he hit it (it didn't slow him down a bit!!!).  I just kinda set there amazed at the speed and strength of that critter....strong, armored, fast,....yelp, they turned into the nuisance I figured they would.  I smile when I see roadkill armadillos.

Ed
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American blood spilled to protect the freedom and peace of people all over the world.  320,000 USA casualties in WWI, 1,076,000 USA casualties in WWII, 128,000 USA casualties in the Korean War, 211,000 casualties in the Vietnam "conflict", 57,000 USA casualties in "War on Terror".  Benghazi, Libya, 13 USA casualties. These figures don't include 70,000 MIA.  But, the leaders of one political party of the United States of America continue to make the statement..."What difference does it make?".

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."..."The press is our chief ideological weapon." - Nikita Khrushchev

"Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they wont come to yours." - Yogi Berra

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2014, 12:52:31 pm »
Ed,
They have very poor eye sight. If you stay up wind and move only when they are digging, you can sneak right up to them. I used to mess with them years ago. They were a lot of fun to sneek up on.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline Redbug

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2014, 04:53:13 pm »
Yup...sneak in and grab them by the tail and you got him! They don't bite and can only scratch just a little bit. Carry them around upside down by the tail or just cradle him in your arms like a baby. They are helpless really.

Hey Sawdust...I used to live near you...Waycross. Loved it.
Dave

"If your sport does not put grease, blood, or dirt under your fingernails, then it's just a game!"

Offline Intheswamp

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #8 on: April 26, 2014, 12:55:59 am »
Ok, apparently we have armadillos that are somewhat different from ya'lls.  Some greyhounds from Shorter must have escaped and bred with the local population of hard-shell possums.  I stepped out a few minutes ago and spotlighted one in the front yard.  I slipped back in and grabbed the shotgun and was walking towards it when it took off like a squirrel.  I had no idea that they could run that fast!!!!!  :shock:  The barrel stayed cool and the varmit got away.

I believe I have found a burrow, which I will investigate further tomorrow.  The critter that I spotted tonight headed into a nearby privet hedge thicket so I'll explore that area, too.

On a bit more of a honey bee topic...a skunk scent was floating with the breeze tonight...I check the beehives and they seemed normal.  Just what I need....more varmits.  :roll:

Ed
« Last Edit: April 26, 2014, 01:06:09 am by Intheswamp »
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American blood spilled to protect the freedom and peace of people all over the world.  320,000 USA casualties in WWI, 1,076,000 USA casualties in WWII, 128,000 USA casualties in the Korean War, 211,000 casualties in the Vietnam "conflict", 57,000 USA casualties in "War on Terror".  Benghazi, Libya, 13 USA casualties. These figures don't include 70,000 MIA.  But, the leaders of one political party of the United States of America continue to make the statement..."What difference does it make?".

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."..."The press is our chief ideological weapon." - Nikita Khrushchev

"Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they wont come to yours." - Yogi Berra

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2014, 06:41:30 am »
Yup...sneak in and grab them by the tail and you got him! They don't bite and can only scratch just a little bit. Carry them around upside down by the tail or just cradle him in your arms like a baby. They are helpless really.

Hey Sawdust...I used to live near you...Waycross. Loved it.

Redbud,
My farm is even closer to Waycross. It is in Taylor FL.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline GSF

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #10 on: April 26, 2014, 06:55:00 am »
Joe, those things stink to the high heaven when you kill them. I used to have a bad problem with them as well. Their not gone either. When I start seeing their signs this is what I did/do. Every time I get the opportunity I'd shine the light around, before I go to be, when I first get up, or in the middle of the night when I have to pee.

Not only can they run, they can jump pretty high when startled, or shot.
When the law no longer protects you from the corrupt, but protects the corrupt from you - then you know your nation is doomed.

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #11 on: April 26, 2014, 07:00:46 am »
Ok, apparently we have armadillos that are somewhat different from ya'lls.  Some greyhounds from Shorter must have escaped and bred with the local population of hard-shell possums.  I stepped out a few minutes ago and spotlighted one in the front yard.  I slipped back in and grabbed the shotgun and was walking towards it when it took off like a squirrel.  I had no idea that they could run that fast!!!!!  :shock:  The barrel stayed cool and the varmit got away.

I believe I have found a burrow, which I will investigate further tomorrow.  The critter that I spotted tonight headed into a nearby privet hedge thicket so I'll explore that area, too.

On a bit more of a honey bee topic...a skunk scent was floating with the breeze tonight...I check the beehives and they seemed normal.  Just what I need....more varmits.  :roll:


Ed
Ed,
They like to dig burrows all over their territory. Their sleeping hole is probably in a thicket or under a shed. The borrows give them a place to run into when they feel threatened.

I have not seen a skunk here in NE FL since 1996 and that one was on the navy base 40 miles away. It was a road kill and it was descended which means it was a pet that somebody got tired of. Yesterday on my way to work, I saw a black fur ball with a little white showing, on the side of the road. Thought it might be a skunk. A few seconds later I could smell that it was a skunk. He was less than a quarter mile form my house/apiary.
I do not know if there are any more. Usually you smell them when they are around because leave their scent when they drop a load.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline Intheswamp

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #12 on: April 26, 2014, 01:42:03 pm »
GSF, the smell...do they smell like something dead?  I was out the other morning hoeing dirt back in holes  :roll: when I suddenly got a strong whiff of carrion.  It was blustery that morning and a touch humid, in less than a minute the smell was gone (wind shift might have removed it).  Anyhow, I was wondering if I may have hoed some armadillo scat, scent, or something. 

In regards to beaming the flashlight on them...  Harassing them seemed to help limit their destructive actions?  They are definitely atheltic critters!!!!  They're definitely not just the slow, strong creatures they're pictured as being...they can move FAST!!!!  Hmm, maybe catch a bunch (if I could figure out how) and start up "Armadillo Races"...could become a national sport, at least here in the south!!!!  Get some Obama money for a grant for a nice stadium...it'd be good for the economy, think of all the jobs and revenue from "Armadillo Dogs" that would be sold at the concession stands!!!!!

Jim, I hope to get a chance this afternoon to do some poking around to see if I can find some burrows.  I'm going to check out the one burrow I've found.  I'm trying to figure out how to check it, though.  The burrow is beneath a small deck/table and there is fresh dirt piled up beneath it.  I understand that they have a super sensitive sense of smell...I'm thinking of pouring a little "something" down in the hole and seeing if a armadillo will come out.  I haven't decided on what to use, though,  maybe pinesol...clorox...a teaspoon of gas, ????

We have skunks around here but so far none have bothered my bees that I know of.  A few years ago I noticed automobiles coming to a stop in front of the house...a mother and four or five kits were crossing the road with tails held high...several vehicles waited patiently for them to cross.  :laugh:   If you saw a dead one, rest assured that there are more somewhere close.

Ed



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American blood spilled to protect the freedom and peace of people all over the world.  320,000 USA casualties in WWI, 1,076,000 USA casualties in WWII, 128,000 USA casualties in the Korean War, 211,000 casualties in the Vietnam "conflict", 57,000 USA casualties in "War on Terror".  Benghazi, Libya, 13 USA casualties. These figures don't include 70,000 MIA.  But, the leaders of one political party of the United States of America continue to make the statement..."What difference does it make?".

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."..."The press is our chief ideological weapon." - Nikita Khrushchev

"Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they wont come to yours." - Yogi Berra

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #13 on: April 27, 2014, 06:25:56 am »
Ed,
If you have hard soil that does not absorb water real fast, like the sand we have here, use a garden hose. Fill it full of water and stand by for a fast moving dillo. Put a cage over the hole. To keep him from getting away.
If the table is one of those cable reels or if it is under the deck, it is probably one of his main holes.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline Intheswamp

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #14 on: April 27, 2014, 10:24:37 am »
Flooding them out!!!! Excellent!!!!!  :-D  Thanks, Jim.

I mowed some of the grass yesterday (spent about as much time pulling dirt back into holes beforehand) and found a few other possible burrows....under a storage building, under a mothballed Cherokee and one in a brush pile.  If the weather holds off this afternoon I need to check my bees, but hopefully will have time to investigate some of the holes.

www.beeweather.com 
American blood spilled to protect the freedom and peace of people all over the world.  320,000 USA casualties in WWI, 1,076,000 USA casualties in WWII, 128,000 USA casualties in the Korean War, 211,000 casualties in the Vietnam "conflict", 57,000 USA casualties in "War on Terror".  Benghazi, Libya, 13 USA casualties. These figures don't include 70,000 MIA.  But, the leaders of one political party of the United States of America continue to make the statement..."What difference does it make?".

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."..."The press is our chief ideological weapon." - Nikita Khrushchev

"Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they wont come to yours." - Yogi Berra

Offline Joe D

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #15 on: April 27, 2014, 02:10:31 pm »
Ed, one of your problems is that what you shoot them with seems to bee to small.  I used to shoot them with a 22, they would jump and run off.  I didn't really mind that, figured they would kick off somewhere else and I wouldn't have to take them off.   Then I started see some with a pink spot on them.  Remembering back that was about where I had shot one.  Went to the SKS haven't had that problem anymore.  You may have to take them off, but they done come back.  They make a good lunch for the bustards also.

Oh, I used to competition Coon hunt, had a Wheat light.  Mounted  the light on the side instead of centered in front.  When you went diller hunting and you aimed your weapon, that is where the light was shinning.  At one time I could get one a 50 yards or so easy.  The game wardens got to frowning on that though.


Joe

Offline Intheswamp

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What's better than one dead armadillo????...............
« Reply #16 on: April 28, 2014, 02:14:19 am »
I think I figured out something.  I walked out on the front porch tonight with the intention of spotlighting  the frontyard.  Well, the porch light was on and just at the edge of the light out in the yard I made out the shape of an armadillo.  I didn't spotlight it and slipped back in for my shotgun.  

I got to thinking about the armadillos' bad eyesight and how the one the other night bolted and high-tailed it out of Dodge once I had the spot light on him.  The spot light is a 6-AA cell "Cyclops" LED light...gift from my son-in-law and is one *bright* little light!   I got to thinking that just maybe the light was so bright that even with the armadillos' bad eyesight the brightness of the spotlight was spooking them...maybe even before I spotted them.  I had previously taped a 2-AA cell 3-LED flashlight to the bottom of the pump's barrel in hopes I would get a shot sooner or later.  I decided to just go with the flashlight and leave the spotlight in the house.  

By the time I got back outside the armadillo that I had spotted was nowhere to be seen.  I figured I might as well make the rounds so I turned and started in the side yard with just the weaker barrel mounted flashlight.  I got around to the side yard and spotted one.  The weaker light didn't make it bolt but I played it safe and used the fringe of the light to get my bearings on it and then hit him with the main beam when I actually aimed.  I had to take a head shot because all I was loaded with was #4.  Tagged him and ya'll are right....they can jump!!!  I watched him for a minute to be sure he was down for the count and proceeded to walk around through the backyard and over to my mother-in-law's yard then back to the front yard of my house.  When I walked back into it the yard (there's kind of a gap in a hedge row where the driveway enters)  I saw another armadillo...probably the one I saw from my porch.  The flashlight again didn't seem to make it bolt, but I could tell that it was sensing my presence.  Another head shot.  :-D

So, a very successful walk-around tonight and a discovery that a bright light isn't good for armadillo hunting...at least around my neck of the woods.  I've got a few holes to fill in and then I'll be watching for new sign.  After the storms/rain moves through here this week any new sign will definitely be detectable.  I'll be watching.

I took a couple of pictures of them, just not sure if it'd be proper to post them here.  ?

So, what's better than a dead armadillo......two dead armadillos!!!!!!  The buzzards will eat good tomorrow!!! :piano:

Ed
« Last Edit: April 28, 2014, 02:28:41 am by Intheswamp »
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American blood spilled to protect the freedom and peace of people all over the world.  320,000 USA casualties in WWI, 1,076,000 USA casualties in WWII, 128,000 USA casualties in the Korean War, 211,000 casualties in the Vietnam "conflict", 57,000 USA casualties in "War on Terror".  Benghazi, Libya, 13 USA casualties. These figures don't include 70,000 MIA.  But, the leaders of one political party of the United States of America continue to make the statement..."What difference does it make?".

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."..."The press is our chief ideological weapon." - Nikita Khrushchev

"Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they wont come to yours." - Yogi Berra

Offline RayMarler

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #17 on: April 28, 2014, 02:50:17 am »
Maybe the brighter light was blindingly bright so they run. I've got one of those brighter LED lights and it is blindingly bright, I'd not like one shined into my eyes. Glad you got it all figured out, now you can enjoy the hunting.

Offline Redbug

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #18 on: April 28, 2014, 08:19:14 am »
When quietly catching them...when they get to their hole, they won't go far inside. You can usually see their tail or feel it if you reach inside. If you do, reach in slowly and make a grab for the tail. Once you have it, just hold on and keep an even pull with both hands against the armadillo's pull. Pretty soon you will feel him start to quiver and lose ground. That's when you dislodge him by pushing him forward and then giving him a strong yank backward. Most of the time they will come right out. Armadillos don't bite and all they have are just digging claws.

I also lived outside of Orlando when I was a kid. One time a friend and I caught one and put him in the trunk of the friend's car for holding, (good to eat you know). When we got home, the armadillo had dug his way into the back seat and was caught up in the wire springs. The seat was a mess. We had to go to the junkyard and get another seat...those were the days...
Dave

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Offline Intheswamp

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Re: How to kill armadillos????
« Reply #19 on: April 28, 2014, 10:37:05 am »
That's what I'm thinking, Ray, that the spotlight was simply too bright and would spook them.  The smaller flashlight was much dimmer and didn't stimulate their flight instinct nearly to the degree the spotlight did.

Redbug, I found years ago that putting wild animals, even dead ones like a butt-headed spike deer that I hit with a car, in the trunk can cause serious problems.  :-D  I would imagine an armadillo would do some damage back there!!!  I know that if it wasn't hard metal that that spike shredded it!  :-\

I've heard of people eating armadillos and read that the meat is similar to "fine-grained, high-quality pork".  It appears that in south America they are actually eaten quiet regularly.  But, eating something that is known to carry leprosy just gives me the shivers, I'll have to give my chair at the table to the buzzards and let them dine well... http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/04/27/armadillos.spreading.leprosy/

;)

Ed
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American blood spilled to protect the freedom and peace of people all over the world.  320,000 USA casualties in WWI, 1,076,000 USA casualties in WWII, 128,000 USA casualties in the Korean War, 211,000 casualties in the Vietnam "conflict", 57,000 USA casualties in "War on Terror".  Benghazi, Libya, 13 USA casualties. These figures don't include 70,000 MIA.  But, the leaders of one political party of the United States of America continue to make the statement..."What difference does it make?".

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."..."The press is our chief ideological weapon." - Nikita Khrushchev

"Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they wont come to yours." - Yogi Berra