Northside Atlanta Welcomes Armadillo

July 18, 2004 | Broker

[Broker]

Motorists in Northeast Atlanta greeted the arrival of "Bob" the Armadillo this morning. This migratory member of the Dasypodidae family could be the first such visitor in the 285 perimeter's Platinum Triangle. Bob died on the road side, his head pointed north bound to Marietta. Rubber neckers and readers alike can ponder this development. An ever widdening range for this curious digger from the deep south.

[Broker]

Does this critter carry disease? How do we keep it out of our gardens?

[RichardW]

I think it carries leprosy. These critters are indeed a pest. They have been known to dig under foundations and they can quickly tear up a lawn as I have learned. I've got a shotgun ready to dispatch them but I never seen them when I am up. They can actually run pretty fast. Just get used to them. I've seen them up in Missouri.

[Jonah Hex]

'possum on the half-shell bump...

[EllaMinnow]

I have been a resident of the Deep South for all of my forty-something years, and I have never seen a live armadillo.

Every armadillo I've seen - and there have been many - were on the side of the road with their legs in the air.

[nuconvert]

Lol

[TXBSAFH]

Come on over to TX we have tons of them. In west Tx some roads are armor plated if you get my drift for a few months a year. They are not that bad. But a shotgun is not a good idea. The pellets sometimes will bounce off the armor. A 22 will work just fine.

[xrp]

How badly did this screw up traffic?

[Ludicrous]

Get a dog.
Build him a house near the garden.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

I lived in Texas for three years and I have never seen a live one. Apparently, when startled, they leap straight up. This makes an encounter with a vehicle deadly.

Some species tame nicely and make good pets.

[EllaMinnow]

Apparently, when startled, they leap straight up. This makes an encounter with a vehicle deadly.

Just the thought of that has me in tears...of laughter!

[Servant of the 9]

I think it carries leprosy. ............ Just get used to them. I've seen them up in Missouri.

Dillers can get a type of leprosy, but it isn't the kind humans get. They don't carry anything that will hurt you.

Their range periodicaly expands and contracts. Sometimes they live only in South Texas, other times they expand over teh entire South Central and South Eastern United States.

SO9

[Conspiracy Guy]

Armadillos are born dead with tire marks on them.

[Bryan24]

I saw a live one the other day, about 30 ft in front of my speeding minivan.

[eyespysomething]

Hey Broker!

We've got 'em down here in east central GA. I always see 'em "spread-out" on the road/roadside.

Isn't it odd that they are this far east/south?

I wonder if they scavenge like racoons and possums?

I admit, I have been seeing more and more of them.

[cripplecreek]

Lots of critters are expanding and changing their ranges. The old timers tell me that there was a time when there were few whitetail deer in southern lower Michigan, now we're overrun. I've read that possums have expanded their range north over the last couple of hundred years. Coyotes seem to be growing in numbers in this part of the state as well.

[speedy]

"Every armadillo I've seen - and there have been many - were on the side of the road with their legs in the air."

Further proof that they are related to possums, except possums tend to lay on their sides with their internal organs displayed externally. Unless that's all part of "playing possum."

[EllaMinnow]

There's a big old possum that likes to sneak up on my deck and eat the dogs' leftovers. On the occasions where the dogs have caught him, he plays possum - and let me tell you, it completely freaks out my oldest dog. He now thinks that he can kill with a loud bark, and the guilt adds too his neuroses.

[avg_freeper]

I saw something weird this morning. As I was driving to work I saw what appeared to be a big crab walking across the road. May be it was a hermit crab or something because I think I saw a shell of some sort on its back. I live in kind of a swampy area in south Paulding county in Georgia. Are those native to this area?

[EllaMinnow]

Did it jump?

[Rebelbase]

The toughest, gristliest meat I've ever eaten was armadillo. It does not taste like chicken.