Thursday, October 2, 2014

HELP, Armadillos are on the loose!

BY SKEETER 
There is a new addition to my GEORGIA GARDENS in the form of a cute critter. Yes, I do think this bumpy, leprosy disease carrying Armadillo is cute. I believe all animals are cute and do not wish them any harm. This one seems to be living in our front one acre of woods under an overturned tree, I talked about a long time ago. Click HERE to read of my "Leaning Tower of Georgia"
 Whom would have thought that 5 years later, this tree would still be hanging on? Not me nor would I have thought that Armadillos would be in Georgia but they are and also in Tennessee. I have seen them there as well. These little critters are slowly making their way North. Click HERE to learn more about Armadillos.

And this Armadillo has called this hollow spot home. It was all fine and dandy until this past week. The cute little Armored Rat is now crossing the asphalt driveway and coming onto my lawn! This Opossum on the Half Shell is digging holes all over the lawn looking for food! If it would only attack Fire Ant Hills, I would welcome this critter to my gardens but it enjoys things found throughout a garden to include some plants! I know it is only time before he/she gets into the flower beds and gardens. Sigh... 
 
Now my question, how does one have this creature move elsewhere like say in the 15 acres behind our gardens or the 18 acres across the street from my gardens? How does one kindly trap an Armadillo for transportation elsewhere?
I fear if this is a female, she may add to the problem in time. Yikes!!! The Saint and I would like to relocate this happy critter. HELP, ARMADILLOS ARE ON THE LOOSE, In the Garden... 
 

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

11 comments:

  1. I feel sorry for you. I hear they are quite destructive in a garden. They are cute tho. They aren't in Indiana yet. I do know of one that was killed on the road in Southern Illinois a few years ago. They would have frozen to death here last winter. I wish you luck in ridding your garden of this armored rat as you say.

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    1. Lisa, I cannot believe they are that far North! Wow, Global Warming I reckon....

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  2. Get one of those 'have a heart' traps, then let him go far away from your gardens.

    Hope you can get rid of him/her, especially if it is a her.

    FlowerLady

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    1. The only issue I have with a trap is, the kitties next door, raccoons and opossums getting trapped instead.... Sigh...

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  3. Good luck relocating it. Some people usually just shoot them. I don't agree with that but perhaps it is a quick fix. I'd try a live trap like FlowerLady suggested. If it wasn't doing too much damage I think I'd just live with it. Sooner or later it will move on. Ugly little thing it is!

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    1. Shooting is a quick fix but Mark and I both do not have it in our hearts to kill it. It is just living its life and has picked our place to call home. I spotted a raccoon on the edge of the pool last night! He/She was looking into the water and walking around the edge! So upset with all the growth around us here in our area. More and more woods being taken away from the wildlife... Sigh....

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  4. We have them here, even in town. They do make a mess of one's yard. They do move on.

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    1. Thanks for the kind words of saying, "they do move on" We are hoping that is just what happens. Can you believe they are in Tennessee? They have become so adaptable with the cooler temps up that way.....

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  5. Oh my leprosy? Still they are cute in a strange way....:)

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  6. Hope this one isn't a female that stays through next summer, because they almost always have 4 identical quadruplets....

    We had armadillos in Mobile, Alabama, and they are very destructive in a garden. They prefer freshly planted plants - my guess is that something in the fertilizer used by the nurseries attracts them. The holes they dig are large - more comparable to holes that dogs would dig than holes that squirrels or skunks dig. I got to where I would go out each morning to replant whatever they had uprooted the night before so that the roots wouldn't have time to dry out in the day's heat.

    Armadillos are tough to trap. One of the best ways is to form large "wings" that lead inexorably into the trap. I can't remember what you can use as bait, but it's not straightforward.

    Good luck!!! Cynthia

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  7. I actually think armadillos are kind of cute, but I might feel differently if they were destroying my yard. Good luck with finding a humane solution.

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