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["Lynda" <lurine AT softcom.net>]

Well, Gene, I'm thinking of hiring mercenaries to deal with our ground 
squirrel and deer problems.  When we're done, shall I send them your way? 
<g>

Lynda
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gene GeRue" <genegerue AT ruralize.com>


> The Curse of Texas continues in here in mid-southern Missouri. No, I
> refer not to the Oval Office. I write of armadillos. I had become
> complacent about the problem when Dax was alive as he had simply
> killed them; I lost count at somewhere around 45.
>
> With Dax gone, the dillo damage has become strong and ubiquitous.
> Everywhere, the best dirt is continually dug up and explored for
> grubs and worms. Last night, sleeping on the porch as usual, I was
> again awakened by Benny chasing a dillo out of the front yard area.
> He usually chases them back to their den or far enough from the house
> that he loses interest and I go back to sleep. This time his barking
> became more shrill and stayed close to the house so I got a pistol
> and flashlight, slipped into the Berkies and went out to check it out.
>
> The dillo was under the truck, where Benny cannot easily go. With my
> presence, it made a run for the Christina Garden, which you may
> recall has a two-foot stone wall at its lower edge. I've been
> wondering how high these little buggers might climb or jump, as
> design information leading to appropriate garden edge protection. I
> was happy to see that even under duress the critter was unable to
> jump up onto the wall. It scurried along the base of the wall to a
> place of heavy leaf and grass litter and ostrich-like burrowed into
> the mess, anticipating relief. At that juncture Mr. Colt spoke and
> the digging ceased.
>
> Until we replace our beloved Dax, it is obvious that we need to do
> something else for garden protection. The better one builds the soil,
> the greater the attraction to the armadillos. Plants, even tree
> seedlings are uprooted to die. Indeed, the cherry tree nearest the
> house has a heavy stone mulch because that was the only way to
> protect it from the damned dillos.
>
> So please share your positive experiences in keeping these diggers away.