How to Clean Armadillos | Gone Outdoors
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How to Clean Armadillos

How to Clean Armadillos
Jul 1, 2011
1 minute read

If you're going to hunt armadillos, you should know that they can carry a form of leprosy that is highly contagious to humans. Leprosy is a bacterial infection that, in its early phases, causes skin sores but can lead to nerve damage. Over time, people with leprosy lose feeling in their extremities and actually lose skin and tissue to unperceived cuts. However, that doesn't mean that you can't kill and eat armadillos. You should plan on trapping them first, though, and keeping them for a few days.

Items you will need

  • Corn feed

  • Hunting knife

  • Oven

Feed your captive armadillo corn feed for three to five days. The purpose of this is to get bacteria out of its gastrointestinal system; those bacteria can give you leprosy. After you handle the armadillo, wash all skin that contacted it with antibacterial soap.

Hold the armadillo down and cut off its head with your hunting knife. After the armadillo is dead, cut the shell down the sides.

Take out all of the organs and use cold water to wash them thoroughly.

Heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and set the meat inside the shell and cook it until done -- internal temperature should be 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Take the skin off the meat and flavor as desired. Jalapeno peppers are a tasty accompaniment, as are beans and cornbread.

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