.22 short for armadillos?

[J-Bar]

Armadillos are the only other animal besides humans that are known to carry leprosy (Hansen's Disease). There are still questions about how much of a risk there is to humans who handle armadillos, but even the CDC recommends avoiding contact. You can Google "leprosy armadillos" and get a whole bunch of articles, including evidence of a rise of human cases in Florida supposedly linked to armadillo contact. There is also evidence that humans passed leprosy to armadillos hundreds of years ago...so there are still a bunch of unanswered question.

So until there is a clear answer one way or the other, and even though it is relatively difficult for humans to develop leprosy, I think it is wise to minimize physical contact with armadillos. If you are shooting them or trapping them, I would wear gloves and avoid prolonged exposure to both live and dead armadillos. Practicing good hygiene and sanitation can't hurt anything.

 

[Speedo66]

From what I've read, they believe the Hansen's Disease was transmitted by ingesting the meat. I still would not want to handle them without (disposable) gloves.

 

[Art Eatman]

Dillers go nutzoid over earthworms. Yum-yums! Put a few in the toe of an old sock or some such little coarse-cloth bag for bait in a trap.

They're actually one of the world's more vicious animals. Notice how they'll lie on their backs on a highway, waiting to trap a car.

 

[Flintknapper]

They're actually one of the world's more vicious animals. Notice how they'll lie on their backs on a highway, waiting to trap a car.

Huh.

And all this time, I thought they were just 'passed out'.

 

[Gtscotty]

I've shot them with .22LR HP subs, .17HMR, 6.8 SPC, 9MM and .40. All worked well, the "armor" was apparently not designed with bullets in mind. If I wanted to use something very quiet, I'd give the CCI Segmented Quiet .22LR rounds a try, the 40 gr pre-segmented bullet is wicked on smaller critters, even at ~800 fps.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Local airport manager traps them in his wife's azaleas. He sets trap with 'diller in sun on south side of hanger about 10am. By noon, they're sound asleep! He then dumps them on northern property line. Coyotes finish them before 10pm.

I recently watched a black vulture chase one on the side of the road! Pecking on its back. (It wasn't "done yet"!).

Only good thing about the 'dillers, is they'll dig up yellow jacket nests, and eat all the larva.
You know why the chicken crosses the road?
To win a bet with the possum and armadillo that it CAN be done!
The deer and raccoons are just daredevils!
The squirrels are trying to make the peta folks hurt themselves!

 

[CraigC]

The .22 Short should do the job. I've been killing the hell out of them with .22LR subsonics as of late.

I don't agree with trapping and relocating. You're just making the pest someone else's problem.