Bloke hits armadillo AND mother-in-law with single 9mm round A Georgia man who took a 9mm pistol to an armadillo also managed to pop a cap in his wife's mum after the round ricocheted off the animal, "hit a fence, went through the back door of his mother-in-law's mobile home, through a recliner she was sitting in, and into her back". According to cops, 54-year-old Larry McElroy pulled …
Hate to be a wet blanket - I usually love stories about outback hicks inadvertently removing their idiot material from the gene pool - but I'm really struggling to see the IT or tech angle here.
Not that the story shouldn't have been posted: I'm just disappointed that no such angle was worked in. Doing so doesn't usually seem to give the Reg cadre too much bother, however hilariously tenuous.
Must try harder!
There's a picture of an Armadillo on the cover of the O'Reilly book "Essential System Administration, 3rd Edition: Tools and Techniques for Linux and Unix Administration"
Isn't that enough for you?
For any other animal based 'What's the IT angle?' questions, I'll refer you to their menagerie: http://www.oreilly.com/animals.html
> I'll refer you to their menagerie: http://www.oreilly.com/animals.html
So - enquiring minds want to know - how do they select the animals? German Shepherd for Mac OS X pocket guide?
Some make sense (the Tsetse fly for one of the Oracle guides for example) but I get the sense that they have a bunch of animal names in a random generator and press the button whenever they bring out a new book..
Hate to be a wet blanket - I usually love stories about outback hicks inadvertently removing their idiot material from the gene pool - but I'm really struggling to see the IT or tech angle here.
There is none. I go elsewhere for my IT news now.
But I understand. As someone who runs their own technology news website, I have to say that IT professionals almost never click on ads. Experienced IT professionals never ever click on ads. The best IT tech news website would probably never make money. For myself, I'm sorry to say that I've taken my focus away from websites for technology types and focused more on sports where all the real advertising profits are.
"Hate to be a wet blanket..."
Knowing that good ol' el reg would never run an article completely bereft of an IT angle, I entered
armadillo computer
into a search engine, and I encountered several computer service businesses with "Armadillo"in their name.
I also discovered a review for a physics-based PC game "Armadillo Run."
After you have laundered your blanket, then get help for your bed-wetting problem.
Nah, he just needed to ask to borrow his cousins outfit.
Steven "Never played MegaMan but heard it's top larks" R
Actually, speaking from experience, the 9mm is the wrong tool for the job.
.22lr is the right tool. It does a good job on them. You usually use a rifle, but you could use a pistol. Typically you end up shooting them from a distance (20+ yrds).
They also have a habit of charging at you after they're shot.
Anyone who's spent time in the country know that they are nasty critter to have around.
Its not just an issue about leprosy, but they have amazing front claws from digging and can seriously hurt dogs and other curious pets. Not to mention they dig holes all over the place. A good way to break a leg, or to have a cow break a leg or get injured. (My wife didn't hate them until she got a bad sprain from stepping in to a hole dug by one.)
In terms of using a shotgun, that too will kill them, but with the .22lr, you end up with longer effective range.
The other fun tidbit is that when you do shoot them, they jump straight up so you know you hit them.
Oh and the 9mm? He must have used a FMJ usually used for practice on the range. Most self defense rounds would have expanded and lost too much energy.
I had to use a 9mm on a rabid racoon once. But then again, it was less than 10 feet away and I was shooting down in to the soft dirt so the round wouldn't have ricocheted.
Its not just an issue about leprosy, but they have amazing front claws from digging and can seriously hurt dogs and other curious pets. Not to mention they dig holes all over the place. A good way to break a leg, or to have a cow break a leg or get injured.
They're also excellent swimmers, and are not infrequently found swimming about in people's pools. That can give you a nasty shock too.
A yank friend of mine once told me about how an armadillo decided to break into his grans house - it went in through the wood panelled walls and took up residence in the cavities. It would occasionally appear in rooms around the place. Apparently, it popping out into the bathroom whilst she was "using the facilities" was the final straw and they called in the exterminators.
" an armadillo decided to break into his grans house - it went in through the wood panelled walls"
So the problem with armadillos is simply that Merkins don't remember the tale of the three little pigs, the moral of which is that you make your house out of materials suitable for the purpose?
You've never been around them on a farm, have you?
They are pests that have migrated north from South America.
They do spread leprosy, which makes them dangerous to humans and cattle.
They have large front claws. When cornered they'll cut you or your dog up. And when cornered they do charge at you.
They dig holes everywhere. Again a danger to humans and cattle.
They are varmints and breed as bad as rabbits. But with rabbits, at least you can eat them and use their fur...
They are varmints and breed as bad as rabbits. But with rabbits, at least you can eat them and use their fur...
you can eat armadillo, too... it isn't too bad when cooked properly...
there's also some interesting artsy type things that a few folks have done with the shells...
You just have to be careful when cleaning them. They are actually quite tasty, with a dense red meat. I like them better than rattlesnake myself. I grew up in rural Texas where armadillos and various poisonous snakes were abundant and cash wasn't so we ate a variety of foods not on the menu at many dining establishments.
The best way to dispatch an armadillo for eating is for one person to get their attention by tapping a stick or similar on a rock in front of them (20' or so, any closer and they'll bolt) and the other person to sneak up behind them and grab their tail, yanking them off the ground quickly. Whack'em in the head with a hammer and BBQ.
This post has been deleted by its author
From the Georgia Department of Natural Resources web page concerning native* wildlife:
Georgia Law allows the taking of certain native species -- namely rats, mice, armadillos, coyotes, groundhogs, beaver, freshwater turtles, venomous snakes, frogs, spring lizards, fiddler crabs, freshwater crayfish, freshwater mussels, and nutria -- because of their status as a nuisance or other reason.
http://gadnrle.org/node/86
As mentioned above, armadillos are destructive. They are in the process of expanding their range in the US, displacing other species as they move in. Many areas, Georgia included, encourage hunters to shoot on sight. Farmers typically do not need encouragement as they are quite destructive. There are no initiatives of which I am aware to actually impede their spread, so to me this amounts to wonton killing of the animals.
* The nine-banded armadillo is a naturalized US citizen. It cannot easily cross wide bodies of water as it does not float. It does, however, know how to use a bridge even if it is prone to jump into the axle of a 4-by-4 passing above it.
The round went through the Armadillo and then went on to hit the MiL.
The story has it wrong if the Armadillo didn't die. Their skin isn't going to stop a 9mm. Trust me, I know. I've killed 100's of them over a 4 year stretch. .22lrs work great, although I used a 16 gauge w #8 birdshot once.
Either the guy missed and the round richocheted off the ground or it went through the pest.
"What exactly is so troublesome about armadillos that they need shooting?"
You can catch leprosy from being scratched or bitten by armadillos. You can even possibly be exposed by eating them. I have friends in Texas that eat them and I've heard they're tasty. I've never seen any numbers on leprosy but a quick google search seems to back up the possibility of catching it from one.
They're burrowing animals, think property damage, and they like it in crawl spaces under houses (think lots of property damage).
They're also considered a "nuisance" species in Georgia like Coyotes, Groundhogs, Beavers, Starlings, Pigeons & English Sparrows. There are no closed seasons or bag limits.
Not every gun owner/hunter is a redneck moron and 100 hundred yard shots on game/mother-in-laws with a handgun is certainly possible. Mine would be pissed but we made her move her trailer years ago.
English Sparrows? You mean just sparrows. Why English? And if, indeed, there are English Sparrows flying around other than in England, please don't shoot them, send old Papageno around and bring 'em back home.
Anyway, why are English sparrows considered pests? What do they do?
No, he means English sparrows. Not British as they're less common in Scotland.....They were introduced to the USA by English settlers who wanted a reminder of home. And they've bred and expanded into a serious national pest in the USA, out-competing local birds
to quote http://oklahomabirdsandbutterflies.com/cat/3/35
"While the United States defeated Britain in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, England got her revenge in the spring of 1852 when 100 House Sparrows brought over from England were released along the East River in New York City. Now 150 years later they are one of the most abundant birds in the United States with a population estimated to be over 200 million. Their exponentially expanding population has caused steep declines in other cavity-nesting birds such as the Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, and several types of swallows."
Pigeons and Starlings are in a similar position as pests
on a Georgia Sunday morning,
I wanna shoot some vermin
but with my gun, I'mma still learnin'.
Is this the way to shoot an armadillo?
I just tried it and shot my poor MIL oh!
Is this the way to shoot an armadillo?
She called the cops - I hope they believe me.
Sha la lah, lah lah la lah la......
Here's some serious-like discussion:
Most likely the fellow was using a Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) round. They are cheap, and should really only be used at the target range. But, 9mm ammo has only recently been widely available in the states (been a shortage lately and maybe he didn't restock yet). A hollow point cartridge would have been a better choice as they usually aren't capable of ricochet like described here (fragment/momentum/wind resistance/etc..).
He was also probably at point-blank-range when he fired (armadillos have terrible eyesight and sneaking up on them consists of a leisurely walk for the stalker.) 9mm rounds are usually very supersonic and have a fair amount of mass. So it'll still pack a whallop even after a ricochet if the round stays together. Hence the recommendation of a shotgun, presumably with birdshot... much lower K.E. per pellet/BB, so any ricochet BB would be slowed rapidly by air.
As to why you kill them...
They carry disease, dig up your garden, eat your food, spread garbage around, and dig mom's flowers... and OMG the SMELL!
As to why you kill them...They carry disease, dig up your garden, eat your food, spread garbage around, and dig mom's flowers... and OMG the SMELL!
That's all very well. But it's no excuse, and I'm afraid it's still illegal to shoot your mother-in-law...
[Les Dawson mode disengaged]
Sorry, but any proper farmer / rancher would tell you to use a .22lr or similar rimfire round.
As to their eyesight, yes they have poor eyesight. But they do have good hearing and smell.
As to being point blank, I doubt it. If he was, then the ricochet wouldn't have traveled 100 yrds. (Think about the angle.)
@ Martin Budden
"Remind me again why there are so many accidental shooting injuries/deaths in the US but not in the UK? Oh yeah, lots of guns with trigger-happy owners."
It is a terrible world when people are afraid of their own shadow. When the concept of DIY is too scary because tools are frightening. Living like that we wouldnt have houses, cars, furniture but simply we wouldnt exist as a species. A crippling fear of accidents is something needing therapy. Respectful use of tools is something you are taught, you learn or Darwinism sorts out.
I agree with codejunky. I have been faced with the difficult decision of ignoring a work-place policy in my new employment, because I have no intentions of leaving my pen-knife behind. There is no earthly reason why a university should have a rule against pen-knives (I carry a Swiss Army penknife with all sorts of useful tools on it), and so I have made a rational decision to ignore the policy. For the first time in my life, I actually have an insight into the feeling of vulnerability that gun-owners in America must have* at having a useful tool that I have carried (in type) since I was about 13 (so about 40 years) turned into a prohibited thing.
*I am not equating a gun - which, as a tool, is fairly limited in its range of uses - with a Swiss Army knife, but just realising that the horrible feeling of someone trying to take away something that I feel secure having with me must be similar.
I'll say it again and this time I'll add emphasis:
Lots of guns with trigger-happy owners.
There are millions of responsible gun owners in the US but they aren't the ones I'm talking about. It's the millions of other gun owners that are the problem, and if those ones didn't have guns the problem would go away.
@ Martin Budden
"There are millions of responsible gun owners in the US but they aren't the ones I'm talking about. It's the millions of other gun owners that are the problem, and if those ones didn't have guns the problem would go away."
There are a lot of good drivers in the UK but most days I will see at least one moron on the phone, a lot who dont indicate and a few who run red lights (yes, nearly every freakin day!). There are a lot of sensible drinkers but there are always those who will get themselves blind drunk to the point of injury to themselves or others. Most people can cross a road with basic competence but some people really do try to commit suicide by focusing on their conversation/phone/MP3 player.
People are creative in their self harm and harm to others. You are commenting on an accident (95yard ricochet) with a comment of "Lots of guns with trigger-happy owners." concerning the legitimate dispatch of vermin. It was unfortunate and the wrong tool for the job (people have mentioned other firearms or bullet variations) but that is what happens in DIY, accidents.
The problem would go away without any people, but that too is a stupid suggestion. I know you mean well but you cannot remove the risks of life from life. Accidents happen.
@ Winkypop
"If someone fired a weapon near a built-up area where I live, it would rain cops AND feature on the evening news.
In America, it's just another day, with maybe a trip to the La-Z-Boy shop and a band-aid for the MIL."
Probably with some insanely blown up story that has little to no resemblance to the truth too. It is a shame we are so scared of nothing in the UK even if some of the US states are a bit blasé.
Considering it was in the good ol' US of A, I am surprised he only used a 9mm, I would have expected at least an armour piercing 7.62 round (which would have dealt with the mother in law as well) but if he was aiming for a ricochet shot he would have needed a different trajectory.
Nah, 7.62 is a commie NATO round. I am a bit surprised he didn't go for a 45 or 38 caliber, as those are good American rounds. The 9mm is kind of commie, because it uses that metric stuff, but it's cheap and has street cred.
A .22 round is just a pansy plinker round, can't do no damage.
You are a little late to the party. Apparently you didn't read any of the responses about the little varmit from people that have actually dealt with them either.
While I appreciate the armadillo for what it is and how it has evolved, it is quite damaging to ranchers and farmers if left unchecked. I've had to put down cattle that have broken legs in armadillo burrows or diggings. I have also had short flights from the back of horses after said horses stepping in 'dillo holes at speed. Luckily the horses were not severely injured.
They can also play hob on your vehicle if you hit them on the road. They are quite dense.
All that being said, I don't believe they should be eradicated either. They are kind of like the wild hogs that are infesting the southern US. They need to be kept in check but not necessarily wiped out.
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