CUTLINE Front row 44—Colt Buehler; Jon Dalke, 4—Huxtyn Rogers; Back row 7—Scott Lamatsch; 56—Peyton Kempke; 6—Jimmy Soeken; 24— Prycen Dody; 3—Levi Galliart

BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

CLAFLIN — An armadillo army discovered Central Plains' football practice field to be a gold mine of grubs and worms

The watered grass is an ideal environment for armadillos during a bone-dry summer.

The armadillos started tearing up the Oilers' practice field, creating a safety issue for players.

A proven armadillo trapper is hard to find.

But Central Plains assistant football coach Dustin Robison knew a guy.

Robison recalled Central Plains substitute teacher Jonathan Dahlke had a background with trapping armadillos. Dahlke started part-time teaching after retiring after 30 years working as a probation officer.

"They're tearing up our practice field," Robison told Dahlke. "Can you bring traps over?"

Dahlke had trapped armadillos in his back yard and his daughter's residence in Holyrood.

After catching a few armadillos, Dahlke returned after Robison said, 'They're back. They're digging in the practice field. We're worried about the footing.'

Dahlke said watered grass invites an armadillo invasion.

"They have an acute sense of smell. It's an easy environment," Dahlke said. "It's easy digging because of the watered grass. They dig up 3-inch holes and tear up the grass. It looks like a rotto-tiller going through."

Dahlke installs a wooden zig-zag platform that entices the armadillos into traps.

"We put up wood boards and funnel them into traps.," he said. "At every point, there's a trap."

Oiler football players Colt Buehler, Huxtyn Rogers, Scott Lamatsch, Peyton Kempke, Jimmy Soeken, Prycen Dody and Levi Galliart stopped by to help.

The players created a life-sized armadillo facsimile fashioned with a laser-cutter that's mounted in the Oiler locker room.

"It's been a hoot, a lot of fun," Dalhke said. "We joke about it. I've gotten to know some football players who are good young men."

The Oiler juniors have invited Dalhke to ride on next week's Homecoming float.

"They're telling me that if I ride the Homecoming float, they'll win first place."