According to WALB News, a Lee County, GA man shot an armadillo on his property with a 9mm sidearm. However, armadillos are armored, (the clue is in the name) and a round ricocheted off the animal's shell and struck his mother-in-law (the man's, not the armadillo's) in the back. Her wound is not life-threatening.
Lee County Sheriff's deputies said 54-year-old Larry McElroy was outside when he fired his 9 mm pistol at the armadillo. The bullet killed the animal, but also ricocheted off of it, 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 a report, McElroy was about 100 yards away from the home at the time.
McElroy's mother-in-law, 74-year-old Carol Johnson was fortunately not severely injured.
"She was walking around on her own power and talking," said Smith. "It didn't appear to be too severe. They took her to Phoebe North [hospital]."
Surely, there's a lesson here for those of us plagued by armadillo infestation*? You betcha:
Authorities also suggest using a shotgun to possibly avoid a situation like what happened Sunday.
"I really think if they're going to shoot at varmints and whatnot, maybe use a shotgun.. with a spread pattern with a lot less range," Smith said.
To be honest, I don't know why I'd
want to shoot an Armadillo (although I understand that they're pretty tasty) but if I ever
do have to...
*The diarist is a city slicker and doesn't know from 'armadillos'.