Back in the mid 70s when I was a young man the old timers around here called them Hoover Hogs because they were a food source during the depression when I enquired about the name. It was also used for rabbits or even "shudder" stewed rat. I have seen some wood rats around here that kept the cat up on the bed at night at my wife's grandmothers house...lol.
I guess heat kills the leprosy???
http://www.ghosttraveller.com/hoover%20hog.htm