A question of Armadillos

[couzin]

It is my understanding that a license is required only on public lands - on private land doesn't matter (but maybe check with TPWD). Hard to shoot the little buggers, especially if you are in an area where someone is going to complain about shots fired at 3AM. If you are trying to trap armadillos - there is only one way to do it. You have to find where their drag trail onto the property is, put some 20" or so high boards/plywood about 12' apart on either side of the trail, and extend them into a "V" shape that ends at the opening of a trap (larger the better). The trap has to have the floor covered with dirt or sod (if they feel the wires they won't go in there). Bait with the grubs from the yard, sardines, rotted meat, old fruit (apricots!?). As someone said above - you gotta kill the grubs in the yard - that's what the dillos are going for. Also - Tractor Supply sells some nasty animal repellant (repels all?) - sometimes it works, sometimes it has no effect. Don't use it if you have dogs.

[speedsix]

...WRONG ANSWER REMOVED AFTER CORRECTION BY FELLOW MEMBER...THANK YOU...

...had to kill one of them critters with a nightstick one time...shoulda packed a lunch...harder to kill than a bad rumor...

[Running Arrow Bill]

Unreal! Living outside city limits & in country (excluding one of those "residential mini-ranches" places)...

A "hunting license to kill a RODENT"? Or, whatever their species is...lol.

Armadillos, opossums, skunks, wild dogs, crazy stray cats, coyotes, wolves, wild hogs...etc. SSS!

[speedsix]

...an armadillo isn't a rodent...they're in the vacuum cleaner salesmen family...

[speedsix]

...now you've got me digging...

...got a lady at Tx Wildlife on the phone, we went over this page: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publication ... t/nongame/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


she said killing for any reason is hunting...and you need a hunting license for even killing a bird in your garden or an armadillo...feral hogs tearing up your property are exempted but any other living critter, even a snake, you gotta have one..... THEN she turns around and says fur-bearing are exempt if they're feral hogs, coyotes, or other furbearers like squirrels causing depradation...so I'm confused on that one..she says there's no season on squirrels...so I'm clear on armadillos but not on squirrels...which I just shoot as pests, anyways...don't eat 'em...I'm gonna get the license anyways...and get a copy of the wildlife laws to learn...if I can carry it around with me...I like to read and digest stuff like that...my confusion is because in La, where I grew up, squirrels are a game animal and they eat 'em...

so...if you're gonna cause the death of that armadillo by any means...get a license,( or buy it a fur coat)...not right now, cause it'll expire in a month or less...I also found out you can't possess a live armadillo in Texas unless you're a zoo or scientist, etc...so don't trap it and keep it...Texas' wildlife laws go on and on and on....I got lost in there several times...

...guess we won't have to round up the Boss on this one after all...

[puma guy]

Armadillos are fast, have sharp claws and carry a list of diseases. Approach with care. Handle the dead carcass with care.

Ditto in terms of handling the carcass. They carry leprosy so use gloves. as far as it being legal to shoot w/o a license consult TPWD or a game warden. Unless I'm wrong nuisance animals may be killed w/o a license. They are almost sightless and I've snuck up on them and grabbed them by the tail. (If it's a large one hang on as they do a very effective spinning action to try to get away) A large landing net would probably work as well. If you want to go the humane route put it in a cage and take it to a rural non-residential area for release. I don't think a trap would work given their diet and technique for getting it. They are now associated with Texas and sort of the unofficial animal of the state, but they weren't even in Texas prior to around 1880.

This is similar to killing Grackles, which are protected, unless they are committing depredation.

Taken from the TPWD link in speedsix's Post

POSSESSION AND SALE OF CERTAIN NONGAME WILDLIFE
•The take of any nongame species for commercial purposes (sale, offer for sale, barter, or exchange) from public lands or waters is unlawful.
•Provided the appropriate permit has been obtained, red-eared slider, common snapping turtle, and softshell turtle may be taken from private water for commercial purposes; however, the take or possession of any other species of turtle for commercial activity is unlawful.
•Many species of nongame wildlife may be sold, offered for sale, bartered, or exchanged, provided the proper nongame permit has been obtained from TPWD and all reporting and recordkeeping requirements are met; however, the collection from the wild, sale, offer for sale, or exchange of certain species of nongame wildlife is unlawful.
•A landowner or landowner's agent may kill any nongame wildlife other than protected birds and threatened or endangered species (see below) at any time in any number, provided the wildlife is not used in a commercial activity.For more information on nongame regulations, permit requirements, and lists of lawful and prohibited species, contact TPWD at (800) 792-1112, menu 7 or (512) 389-4481 or go to

Just have the landowner give you authority to act for him.

[puma guy]

"Nuke it from orbit - it's the only way to be sure."

(Well, someone had to say it)

but then the sand in your yard would be blue glass. and what if the 'dillo's mutate from the radiation?

[JJVP]

...an armadillo isn't a rodent...they're in the vacuum cleaner salesmen family...

[JJVP]

Why don't you use the most common and easiest way to kill an armadillo, just run it over with your car.

[couzin]

...got a lady at Tx Wildlife on the phone, we went over this page: ...she says there's no season on squirrels...

If she was saying "State-wide" it is open season - then she is wrong. The 51 counties of East Texas have limited season, some counties are open all year, and some are no season at all. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hu ... /squirrel/. Tasty little critters...

[Mel]

Why did the chicken cross the road? To prove to the armadillo that it could be done.

Sorry, Couldn't resist!

[speedsix]

...got a lady at Tx Wildlife on the phone, we went over this page: ...she says there's no season on squirrels...

If she was saying "State-wide" it is open season - then she is wrong. The 51 counties of East Texas have limited season, some counties are open all year, and some are no season at all. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hu ... /squirrel/. Tasty little critters...

...that's what has me confoosed...we ate 'em in La....had bag limits and all...I can't believe Texas doesn't count them as game same like rabbits...it sure is different over here...I AIN'T gonna argue with no game warden...they don't fight fair...

[speedsix]

Why did the chicken cross the road? To prove to the armadillo that it could be done.

Sorry, Couldn't resist!

...I've walked a lot of country roads...I thought armadillo hide was an ingredient of asphalt for the longest...you see patches of it smashed into the asphalt everywhere...