I saved the armadillo..but got in trouble..

speg

speg

Active Member
Got a new account today (pest control).. went around back and noticed an armadillo stuck in a trap..
Some background: We want to kill mole crickets/grubs because they kill grass.. armadillos eat these by digging intot he ground... pisses home owners off because of the holes they leave in the yard.. This guy (the home owner) had been (supposedly) attempting to trap this armadillo for 3 months and finally got it....
Anyways... I saw it.. I decided to try and contact the home owner and let him know he had an armadillo trapped... he wasn't home... I didn't want to see him sit there all day without water and possibly die (I love animals afterall)........... I let it go out of the trap and I pet it furiously as it hopped away...
The guy came home pissed and canceled us.. plus I got yelled at by the boss... I have this gross feeling in my stomach... I don't know if it's because I let it go or because I got yelled at...
Oh, by the way.. It's illegal to set out a trap to capture "wild animals".. I would figure that it would also be illegal to let an animal sit like that (animal cruelty?)
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
LOL....I hate armadillos for the same reason the home owner you pissed off does....a 22 usually does the job

At least you still have your job :)
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
Originally Posted by Speg
http:///forum/post/3264624
Got a new account today (pest control).. went around back and noticed an armadillo stuck in a trap..
Some background: We want to kill mole crickets/grubs because they kill grass.. armadillos eat these by digging intot he ground... pisses home owners off because of the holes they leave in the yard.. This guy (the home owner) had been (supposedly) attempting to trap this armadillo for 3 months and finally got it....
Anyways... I saw it.. I decided to try and contact the home owner and let him know he had an armadillo trapped... he wasn't home... I didn't want to see him sit there all day without water and possibly die (I love animals afterall)........... I let it go out of the trap and I pet it furiously as it hopped away...
The guy came home pissed and canceled us.. plus I got yelled at by the boss... I have this gross feeling in my stomach... I don't know if it's because I let it go or because I got yelled at...
Oh, by the way.. It's illegal to set out a trap to capture "wild animals".. I would figure that it would also be illegal to let an animal sit like that (animal cruelty?)
Gee, the guys been trying to trap it for weeks and you turn it loose and wonder why he's pissed? I imagine like in most states Florida allows you to get a permit to trap nussance animals. If he was legal you would be out there with a butterfly net trying to recapture the thing if it had been me.
All that being said I would have at least give the lil feller some water, I like animals too, except for house cats
 
bionicarm

bionicarm

Active Member
I didn't know armadillo's went that far east. When you pick them up, you grab them right in the middle of their waist. Just watch out feor the claws. We used to catch these vermin and race them at Chili Cookoffs. They can get up and go when you want them to.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

You could have taken the time to get another cage and put the critter in it, then release it far away...just letting it go was dumb on your part, the neighbor will kill it for sure next time it gets trapped.
 
mrdc

mrdc

Active Member
I've trapped a couple in my backyard and relocated them. You are right that they are strong and can seriously mess up a yard. My dad shoots them at his house with a 22 around 6 am. Now opossums are different. I won't go near them because they are mean as heck and get BIG!
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by mrdc
http:///forum/post/3264793
I've trapped a couple in my backyard and relocated them. You are right that they are strong and can seriously mess up a yard. My dad shoots them at his house with a 22 around 6 am. Now opossums are different. I won't go near them because they are mean as heck and get BIG!
That's why you use a 22...LOL....You don't have to go near them...I hate opossums too...and YEAH they are scary..with their claws and fangs
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3264833
That's why you use a 22...LOL....You don't have to go near them...I hate opossums too...and YEAH they are scary..with their claws and fangs

I thouht they play dead and not fight..
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
I have never seen one play dead. Now, I know they do... but the ones in Texas at least had heuvos to spare and stared me down. I walked often at night with my dogs (like after 2am... I have heuvos to spare as well) and I would be afraid my dogs would see them and go nuts (not favoured at the late hour).
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
My cousin's doberman would eat possums. He had a couple of fruit trees that drew them in. If they got too low or fell it was dinner time.
 
speg

speg

Active Member
Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3264848
I have never seen one play dead. Now, I know they do... but the ones in Texas at least had heuvos to spare and stared me down. I walked often at night with my dogs (like after 2am... I have heuvos to spare as well) and I would be afraid my dogs would see them and go nuts (not favoured at the late hour).
I saw one playing dead in a trap once while working... I thought "oh it's dead..." and went up to it and grabbed the cage and it started movin.... they've got sick teeth so it kinda really shocked me :p
On a side note... I've also had a hog-nosed snake play dead on me.... they let their tongues hang out and everything :p
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by reefraff
http:///forum/post/3264891
My cousin's doberman would eat possums. He had a couple of fruit trees that drew them in. If they got too low or fell it was dinner time.
EWWWWW...Do opussums carry rabies???? I'd worry about that if my animal was eating them BLAAAAHHHH
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

The only ones I see are in the road...I think those are really dead and not playing at all....or crossing the street and I know soon they will be really dead too...they look like giant grey rats.
If playing dead is the primary method to survive then the teeth and claws are for eating and for a false bravado show. I would however not grab one, nor want my dogs near one either.
I know they carry their babies on their backs.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3264931

I know they carry their babies on their backs.
Actually opossums have a pouch in which they carry their babies...then they go to the back
The female carries and nurses her young in her marsupium until they are about 2 to 3 months old; then they are carried on her back another 1 to 2 months whenever they are away from the den.
 
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