The biologist stated that chasing, catching, and wrestling armadillos is considered a sport, but Applegate strongly recommends against doing so in Tennessee. Armadillos are valued for their soft fur, which is used in some products such as pet toys and clothing. In Texas, it is permitted to hunt armadillos under certain conditions. The animal must be at least 12 inches long and weigh at least 3 pounds. It is illegal to sell or trade armsadillos. Armadillos are members of a large rodent family called Dasyuridae. They usually grow between 15 and 20 pounds and can live up to 10 years. There are three species of armadillos in Texas: the woodarmadillo, the giant armadillo, and the small armadillo. Woodarmadillos can be found in northern Texas while the other two species are limited to southern Texas. People have been hunting armadillos for food and skin since the 16th century. At that time, they were often hunted with dogs or killed with sticks to avoid injuring them. Today, hunters use guns to take armadillos. The animals are then either eaten or processed into leather products.