How To Get Rid Of Armadillos In Your Yard

An Armadillo may look cute with its small size, big ears, and cute snout but this nine-banded pest causes significant damage to flower beds, lawns, and vegetable gardens. Its sharp claws also cause structural damage as it burrows tunnels under driveways and buildings.

Ways to get rid of Armadillos

Eden has listed five methods to get rid of Armadillos from your yard and protect your lawn from damage.

Some of these solutions are more effective than others, and can serve as a deterrent for Armadillo control for several years.

• Limit their food supply

Armadillos love grubs, termites, and other insects with fruits and veggies too. Try to make your yard a little less attractive by restricting their food sources.

Getting rid of all insects from your yard isn’t productive (or even possible). However, bushes, shrubs, and tall grass attract food to Armadillos because they usually house insects. Minimizing these sources will give Armadillos less reason to come sniffing around your yard. Prune your bushes and shrubs regularly so they don’t become overgrown. 

To get rid of insects in the first place, you can use a broad-spectrum insecticide for across-the-board control. Use eco-friendly beneficial nematodes to get rid of grubs. 

If you have any fruit trees, ensure to pick up fallen fruits as soon as possible. Wire mesh covers for your flower beds and vegetable garden also help block the armadillos’ contact to food sources.

• In-ground fencing

In-ground fences are an effective solution. However, if the fence doesn’t go deep enough, Armadillos will burrow right below and into your yard. Sometimes they will climb onto the fence.

A deeper fence is better. A fence slanted outward at a 40-degree angle and buried 18 inches deep will help prevent armadillos from digging. Homeowners with a large perimeter must consider the cost of fencing materials.

• Electric fencing

An electrical fence can keep Armadillos off your grass, but don’t build it in areas where pets or children play.

Note: A single-strand electrical fence that is 3 to 4 inches off the ground can be effective, if you are willing for this shocking solution.

• Remove their hiding places

Armadillos prefer to make burrows in areas that have a protective cover. Removing rock piles, brush, and tall grass may discourage Armadillos from digging.

However, this may not work because by getting rid of these materials from your yard, you are removing the habitat of other wildlife too.

• Live trapping

Baiting and trapping is one of the most helpful ways to get rid of Armadillos. 

The most helpful Armadillo baits include ‒ Pond worms, Wigglers, Crickets, and Red worms. These are available at a pet store or online.

Armadillos can’t observe food from far away, so you must place the bait and trap in an area where they’re likely to come. That includes brush and active burrows.

Cage traps that are 10-by-10-by-32-inches are helpful as Armadillo traps. Use one that opens at both ends and consists of “wings” (1-by-6-inch or 1-by-4-inch boards around 6 feet long that funnel the animal inside). 

Check your state wildlife laws to know if it’s legal to catch and release an Armadillo where you are located. It’s better to call your local wildlife removal organization to relocate the critter in case you catch one. Armadillos can cause destruction with their sharp claws when provoked.

Signs of Armadillos

Ensure an Armadillo is visiting your yard before you take steps to treat one. Take a walk around your yard and examine your landscape for the indicative signs of Armadillo damage.

Signs of armadillos include:

• Uprooted plants
• Cracks in driveways or sidewalks
• Damaged wires or pipes
• Burrows around your home’s perimeter, especially around rock piles, brush, and stumps (these are similar to holes in the ground)
• Shallow holes throughout the lawn that are 1-3 inches deep and 3-5 inches wide 

If you observe mounds adjacent to the holes, you may be dealing with woodchucks, gophers, or moles. You can identify the mysterious digger in your yard based on your location. Armadillos can be found across the southern United States from Texas to Florida, although several have been found as far north as Illinois. On the other hand, pocket gophers and moles live in the southern Great Plains and eastern states.

Damage 

Armadillos are common across the Southeast and are considered an invasive species in Florida. They love digging holes in yards for food. Their primary food sources are scorpions, earthworms, spiders, and other invertebrates.

A single armadillo is able to dig dozens of holes in your yard and prefers the most maintained lawns. You may think that a well-maintained lawn has fewer pests, but the moist soil attracts these hungry critters.

Another major reason to get rid of armadillos is that they are the only animal except humans having the capability of carrying the bacteria that causes leprosy. The transfer of leprosy from armadillos to humans is not well understood but creates a medical concern.

What attracts armadillos to your yard?

Armadillos like some humidity and places to hide. If your property is near a forest or woodland, you’re more likely to experience the armored animals in your yard. Moreover, moist, porous soil can attract Armadillos as it becomes easier for them to burrow in.

Similar to other animals, food draws Armadillos to your yard. Your yard might be their favorite place in the area if you have a vegetable garden, berry-producing shrub, or many insects.

What do armadillos look like?

Armadillos are small, grayish-brown animals that consist of a natural armor around their body made of overlapping plates. They have a long head, pointed snout, black eyes, and short legs. The most common type, nine-banded Armadillos, are about 25 to 45 inches long (about the size of a big house cat).

When to Call A Professional 

Getting rid of Armadillos from your yard takes perseverance, dedication, and a real desire to keep these diggers away from your grass. If the above-mentioned solutions don’t work, call pest control, wildlife removal, or animal control experts near you.

Note: You may have read online that the strong smell of castor oil, mothballs, or ammonia can be used to repel Armadillos. Don’t believe it as Wildlife Removal USA and other professionals say armadillos are unaffected by the odors and warn that mothballs can appear tempting (they can look like candy) and prove harmful to children.

Armadillos are tough, but a determined homeowner is tougher. Try one of our methods above and you probably will get rid of Armadillos in no time.

To conclude, ways to get rid of Armadillos include limiting their food supply, in-ground fencing, removing their hiding places, electric fencing, and live trapping and baiting. Call for professional help if these methods don’t work.

Contact Eden for controlling pests in your yard effectively leaving your yard healthy and free of pests.