Martha and the Armadillo !!!
William81
Member Posts: 25,343 ✭✭✭✭
I was checking out the back yard late on Tuesday night. I saw Martha hunkered down behind a tree and closely watching something. She would look and then move out into the yard and then come running back behind the tree...
Grabbed a flashlight, rifle and headed out to take a better look. By the time I got out there, Martha was crouched down in the grass, ears back and hissing. About 10 feet from her was an Armadillo flitting about like they do. I was enjoying the show until the Armadillo picked out a spot in the garden and started digging like crazy. I tried to run it off but no luck....so the problem was handled in another fashion... My bride does not need to be tripping over holes in her flower garden...
I disposed of the Armadillo out at the edge of our hayfield. The next morning, there were two bald eagles working over the remains. Followed by some buzzards when they were finished..This has been a unique year, lots of Armidillos and Skunks in the yard....
Comments
Good hunting Martha. Glad the eagles got fed. And pictures, always great.
Their hell on turkey eggs. Good dispatch.
I had an American bull dog that LOVED to kill em. He would grab them, then with ONE big crunch, it was all over with. Well, almost. He was solid white, so a bath would ensue right after each battle. Plus those things can carry leprosy! Handle with care!
Great that you have an equal opportunity bird feeder. Love the pics.
As far as I can determine, no one has caught leprosy from them, besides, they taste not like chicken, but like pork! 🐖 (Truth)
I read about some alleged cases of leprosy in I believe Louisiana back in the early 1900's....I could not find anything that led to believe there were other incidents of it....or even if the Louisiana cases were true or not...
But grdad45, I am going to have to be pretty hungry before I try and eat one !!!!! 😲🙃
"Armadillos got the nicknames “possum on the half-shell” and later during the Great Depression they were called “Hoover Hogs.” At the time President Hoover was promising a “chicken in every pot” but people were so poor all they could eat was what they could catch, including armadillo. Many people parboil the meat and trim off all fat, which gets rid of any wild game taste. Then they fry it but that is not necessary. It can be used as is in stews and the like."
I have shot them when I couldn't catch them, but if I don't have to shoot one, I'll relocate it. The one in this picture is alive and well, and about to be released a couple of miles from where it was rooting up a garden.
"In the southern United States, some armadillos are naturally infected with the bacteria that cause Hansen’s disease in people and it may be possible that they can spread it to people. However, the risk is very low and most people who come into contact with armadillos are unlikely to get Hansen’s disease."
It goes on to say that 95% of people have natural immunity. So YES they carry leprosy, and YES it is a SMALL chance of catching it......but like I said. Be careful!
Odds of getting a rare tick disease is well ..RARE but people get sick every year. Not saying that if you touch one then you are doomed. Just informing, because you don't know what you don't know.
Armadillos are just freaky little animals. Mrs. Armadillo always gives birth to quadruplets. Four identical babies, either all male or all female. Also, the armadillo can cross a small creek, by holding his breath and walking across the bottom of the creek.
When you are in your campsite at night, and an armadillo runs in and collides with your leg, he jumps 2 feet in the air, and lands, and runs off in the other direction.
Say did you dig out the bullet so the scavengers didn't ingest lead?
This is Missouri, Not California !
Besides the bullet went all the way though..