Texas man shoots armadillo, bullet ricochets back into his face

A Texas man was injured after he shot a gun at an armadillo in his yard and the slug ricocheted back to hit him in his face, the district sheriff said Friday.

Cass County Sheriff Larry Rowe said the man, who was not identified, went outside his home in Marietta, Texas, at around 3 a.m. UTC time Thursday morning. He detected the armadillo on his property and opened fire.

"His wife was in the house. He went outside and took his .38 revolver and shot three times at the armadillo," Rowe said.

The animal's hard shell deflected at least one of three bullets, which then struck the man's jaw, he said.

The man was airlifted to a hospital nearby, where his jaw was wired shut, according to Rowe.

The status of the animal's health is unknown.

"We didn't find the armadillo," the sheriff said.