Iron possums

[wildman]

Perusing the hearing booklet today, I found the following on the proposal list for next year:

H3. Allow armadillos to be hunted all year and trapped during the regular furbearer
trapping season with no bag limits.
Justification: Although not common yet, these non-native mammals are starting
to move into North Carolina from South Carolina. The proposed regulation
change would allow for opportunistic taking of armadillos and reduce the need
for depredation permits.

Being the bored post-holiday reporter that I am I had to ask --- HUH? Anybody seen any of these critters? I know they are in Tennessee and that other, lower Carolina, but I hadn't heard of any armadillo-action round these parts. Balancing out habitat needs, climate information and other factors, I come up with a maybe-it-could-happen, but still...armadillos? Here?

Hope everyone ate too much, and had a good Thanksgiving, keeping in mind those to whom we owe so much.
Svnt.,
Wildman

[varmintshooter]

Yep! that's what people said about nutria, skunks, groundhogs, coyotes, and now there are Tapir moving through LA and moving North. Before long we could have opossum on the half shell and grill a 600 Lb hog looking rodent.

[rye]

This was discussed on NChuntandfish.com forums not too long ago. I didn't realize we had them either, but they are apparently invading from the south and moving into lower NC.

[TrapperTod]

Can you eat them? Are they worth anything?

[rye]

Some folks do, and no they aren't. (other than the occasional novelty ash tray )

[wildman]

I was thinking boxing glove, rather than ashtray. Kinda like Bahama mittens.
Rather disgusting photo of an armadillo entree over on the Predator Forum, under (ironically) the thread on beavers.
Bespoke one of my wildlife officers, and he said this is a pro-active, preemptive move. Make'em legal to take before they get here, and when they come we're ready.