Armadillos are unique mammals recognized by their distinctive armored shells. Their presence often prompts questions about their impact on natural ecosystems and human spaces. Understanding their behaviors and ecological roles is important to determine whether they are beneficial or a nuisance. This exploration sheds light on their contributions and challenges.
Natural Pest Controllers
Armadillos are primarily insectivores, with their diet consisting largely of insects, grubs, and other invertebrates found beneath the soil. They consume a variety of common garden and lawn pests, including beetle larvae (white grubs), termites, ants, and scorpions. This dietary preference allows them to act as natural pest controllers, helping to manage populations of destructive lawn and garden organisms. Their keen sense of smell enables them to locate these food sources efficiently, often digging small holes to access them.
Armadillos actively forage in soil, especially during fall and spring when grubs are closer to the surface. While foraging, they also consume other invertebrates like millipedes, centipedes, snails, and earthworms, along with some plant matter and small vertebrates. Their nocturnal habits mean they often conduct this pest control activity undetected.
Ecological Contributions
Beyond pest control, armadillos contribute to their environment through extensive digging habits. Their burrowing activities aerate the soil, improving its structure by increasing oxygen levels and facilitating water infiltration. This process helps in nutrient cycling and can benefit plant growth by creating more favorable conditions for root development. Their foraging also introduces microbial diversity into the soil, enhancing its overall health.
Armadillo burrows serve as important microhabitats and shelters for a diverse range of other small animals. Species such as bobcats, foxes, opossums, raccoons, skunks, frogs, snakes, and various bird species have been observed utilizing these underground refuges. These burrows provide protection from predators and extreme weather, offering stable temperatures for many creatures. The disturbed soil around burrows can also attract insects and amphibians, providing foraging opportunities for other animals.
Common Concerns and Misconceptions
Despite their beneficial roles, armadillos are often perceived negatively due to their digging habits, which can cause considerable damage to human properties. They create numerous shallow holes, typically 3 to 5 inches wide and 1 to 3 inches deep, while foraging in lawns and gardens. These excavations can uproot plants, disturb landscaping, and create tripping hazards.
Their deeper burrows, used for shelter, can undermine the structural integrity of foundations, driveways, sidewalks, and utility lines. These burrows can extend several feet deep and long, posing a risk to property stability. Another concern is their potential to carry Mycobacterium leprae, the bacteria that causes leprosy (Hansen’s disease). While armadillos can transmit the bacteria to humans, particularly the nine-banded armadillo, the risk of transmission is generally low. Most human cases in the U.S. are not linked to armadillo contact, and approximately 95 percent of the human population is naturally immune to the bacteria. Transmission typically requires prolonged and close contact with an infected animal, and the bacteria is fragile outside a host.
Coexisting with Armadillos
To manage armadillos and mitigate potential damage, several humane strategies can be employed:
Eliminating their primary food sources, such as grubs and insects, by treating lawns can make a property less appealing to them.
Reducing moisture in the soil by fixing leaks and improving drainage can also deter them, as they prefer moist ground for digging.
Removing brush piles, woodpiles, and dense ground cover can make areas less attractive for burrowing.
Physical barriers offer an effective method to prevent armadillo access. Installing fences that extend at least 12 inches into the ground and are about 24-36 inches high can deter them from burrowing under or climbing over.
For specific garden areas, raised beds or wire mesh barriers can provide protection.
Motion-activated lights or sprinklers may startle armadillos, encouraging them to move away from unwanted areas.
While some repellents, like castor oil, are suggested to make food sources unpalatable or create unpleasant odors, their effectiveness can vary.
In persistent situations, consulting a wildlife control professional for humane trapping and relocation may be considered, adhering to local regulations.