These disgusting little critters are migrating north and are causing some maddening damage on my property. I have learned that several of my friends are also experiencing this you. How about you? Have you any suggestions or experience with them?
I remember when as a kid, they were not north of Texas. Then according to what I have found they made it north to Missouri in the 70s. Armadillos migrated to North America through Central America and Mexico, crossing the Rio Grande River in the late 1800s. Humans also introduced them to Florida during this time.
Now, I don't intend to start an argument about climate change, but they don't like the cold and they are mostly nocturnal, but they may be more active during the day when it's cooler. Researchers believe climate change is a factor in armadillos' northward expansion, as they prefer hot weather and sandy or clay environments.
There is a ton of information out there on them, so I am not going to bore you with cutting and pasting all of it.
Below is just a small sample of the damage they have been doing to my property.
Below is a picture of one I shot the other night a 3 AM. No, armadillos are not protected in Missouri, and are legal to hunt and trap year-round. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) allows residents to trap or shoot armadillos that are causing damage to their property.
Armadillos are considered a nuisance because they can: Damage lawns and gardens, Burrow into the ground, and Carry bacteria that can cause leprosy. [Reply]
Originally Posted by HemiEd:
I just checked my cabinet and I not only have a box of 6s that we used to use for pheasant, I have a box of 00 that I am going to use for these armored rats.
Originally Posted by HemiEd:
Very cool! How much does a box of shotgun shells cost now? You must have a large gun safe? I have a couple cousins that have walk in gun safes.
Did you notice the price tag on the box of shells in my picture? It was purchased in 1960 at Kidwell's hardware on Kellogg in Wichita that closed down about 71 when they widened Kellogg, lol. Crazy they still fire so well.
A little research and I find shotgun shells are more than $20.00 a box depending on what you choose to shoot. I think last time I was actively buying ammo they were a little above $10.00 a box which was high then. [Reply]
Originally Posted by seamonster:
Nine Banded Armadillo's Are Found in Argentina
They just burrow into the ground in the winter (opossums in shells). Many years ago I'd worked with somebody from Argentina and they were surprised to see these dumb pieces of shit (9 banded) loitering around. You don't see them where I live now because the soil sucks. But there's no reason they can't survive in a subtropical climate that has ideal soil (midwest).
That DNA research I linked is saying the nine banded armadillo found in Argentina doesn’t actually live in the US. Regardless they certainly have limits to the levels of cold they can tolerate. Thats not to say they can’t keep adapting as they move further north though. [Reply]
Originally Posted by philfree:
A little research and I find shotgun shells are more than $20.00 a box depending on what you choose to shoot. I think last time I was actively buying ammo they were a little above $10.00 a box which was high then.
Originally Posted by displacedinMN:
not sarcastic-this is an interesting thread
Feral pigs- now armadillos
The Armadillos are wearing my ass out. I have been getting up every couple hours to check and see if they are out there. Each morning I go out with a hoe and pitchfork to repair the damage.
I bought some motion activated lights today and hopefully that will help. I have the shotgun loaded with 00 shells ready to go.
We made the trip to Springfield today and saw at least a half dozen road kill Armadillos on the way. Stopped at the big hardware store in Nixa asking for traps and there were several other people in there checking on the same thing due to Armadillo damage.
Speaking of hogs, my son in law shot these a couple days ago, the same morning I shot the Armadillo, on his property in Texas.
Well I may have stumbled on to a solution after much deliberation.
So far, this is the second night in a row without any prolonged visits from these armored rats that I am aware of and zero damage yesterday after a thorough check.
I had been considering the trap thing and shopped them on Amazon, Ebay and the big hardware store in Nixa. A one use approximate $70 expenditure that might not work but I would have paid double that for something that would positively kill the things instantly.
So, when at Sam's on Wednesday I picked up some motion detector lights for $17. If I had spent more time looking at them I probably wouldn't have bought them since they need to be plugged into AC. But, after running a long extension cord out there and setting them up where the Armadillos had been most active it seems to be working. :-) [Reply]
Anyone thought of an electric fence? I am on 10 acres and had some horses back in the day. Pain in the ass to maintain, but kept the horses in????? Or armored rats out?
