Armadillos in a residential yard are often identified by their disruptive digging, which requires a focused approach to removal and prevention. These animals cause significant landscape damage while foraging for food or constructing burrows. Addressing this nuisance involves identifying the pest, modifying the habitat to make it less appealing, and, when necessary, safely and legally removing the animal. This guidance details the practical methods for reclaiming your yard from armadillo activity.
Confirming the Pest: Signs of Armadillo Damage
Confirming that an armadillo is the source of the damage is the first step, as other animals like skunks or squirrels also dig. Armadillos create distinct foraging holes that are typically shallow and cone-shaped, measuring one to five inches deep and three to five inches wide. This damage results from the animal rooting in the soil while searching for insects and grubs.
These foraging holes are generally larger and deeper than the small, circular plugs created by skunks. Another sign is the presence of larger burrows, typically seven to eight inches in diameter, found near foundations, under dense brush, or alongside fences. You may also notice uprooted plants and small, oval-shaped track impressions, sometimes with a faint line left by the drag of their tail.
Habitat Modification and Exclusion Barriers
Modifying the yard’s environment to remove attractants is necessary for long-term success. Armadillos are primarily insectivores, focusing on invertebrates like grubs, earthworms, and beetles found in the topsoil. Reducing this food source encourages the animal to forage elsewhere, which can be achieved through targeted treatments for lawn grubs.
Commercial repellents are usually ineffective because armadillos rely on their acute sense of smell to locate food underground. Reducing soil moisture by adjusting irrigation can also help, as damp soil is easier to dig and keeps invertebrates closer to the surface. Furthermore, removing dense brush piles or low-lying debris eliminates potential shelter sites where armadillos establish burrows.
Physical exclusion provides a reliable solution to prevent armadillos from entering specific areas like gardens or under a porch. An effective fence uses galvanized wire mesh at least 3 feet high and must include a buried section to deter digging. The mesh should be buried 12 to 18 inches deep, with the bottom edge bent outward at a 40-degree angle. This construction makes burrowing beneath the barrier difficult, often prompting the animal to move on.
Humane Trapping and Removal Protocols
If habitat modification fails, active removal using a live trap may be necessary. The most suitable trap is a large, sturdy cage trap, ideally measuring around 10 x 12 x 32 inches. Trap placement is more important than bait, as armadillos forage by scent for insects and rarely enter a trap for surface-level food.
The trap should be placed directly in the armadillo’s known travel path, such as along a fence line, next to a building, or over the entrance of an active burrow. Use wooden boards or temporary fencing as “funnels” to guide the animal into the trap entrance, utilizing the armadillo’s poor eyesight and tendency to travel along barriers. The trap should be checked frequently, ideally early each morning, since armadillos are nocturnal and should not be left trapped for extended periods.
Addressing Safety and Legal Considerations
Handling a trapped armadillo requires caution due to potential health risks and sharp claws. Armadillos are the only other mammals besides humans known to naturally carry Mycobacterium leprae, the bacteria that causes Hansen’s Disease (leprosy). Although the risk of transmission is low, wearing heavy-duty gloves is required when handling the animal or the trap.
Before attempting any trapping or removal, contact your local and state wildlife agencies to understand the legal requirements. Regulations regarding the trapping, transport, and relocation of nuisance wildlife vary significantly by jurisdiction. After removal, burrows should be promptly filled with soil and tamped down to prevent re-entry by other animals and eliminate a tripping hazard.