Armadillo activity often leaves behind distinct, frustrating damage in residential yards, characterized by shallow, conical depressions. These foraging holes typically measure between one to three inches deep and three to five inches in diameter. This damage quickly degrades the appearance of a manicured lawn, leading homeowners to seek effective, lasting solutions. This guide provides practical steps for both repairing the immediate landscape damage and implementing long-term strategies to prevent armadillos from returning.
Restoring the Landscape
The first step after noticing damage is to physically repair the disturbed areas to restore the lawn and minimize safety risks. Begin by clearing loose debris or grass clumps from the hole, creating a clean area for new soil application. Gently compact the surrounding soil without over-compressing it, which stabilizes the area and prevents further collapse or erosion.
Next, fill the depression with a high-quality topsoil or a soil-sand mixture, ensuring the new material is level with the surrounding grade. Slightly overfill the spot initially, as the soil will settle over the next few watering cycles. Promptly filling these excavations eliminates potential tripping hazards for people and pets.
The final step involves reseeding the bare patch with an appropriate turf mix or patching it with a small piece of sod. Keep the repaired spots consistently moist until the grass seed germinates or the sod takes root. This helps bind the new soil to the existing lawn structure.
The Root Cause of Armadillo Digging
Understanding the armadillo’s motivation is fundamental to developing a successful prevention plan. Nine-banded armadillos are insectivores; their digging is a direct result of foraging for food beneath the soil surface. They locate invertebrates like beetle larvae, earthworms, and insect pupae using their strong sense of smell.
Armadillos instinctively seek environments where prey is abundant and accessible. Yards with loose soil, high organic content, or heavy irrigation are attractive because the soil is easier to excavate. The presence of white grubs, for example, signals a ready meal, motivating the armadillo to dig extensively.
Immediate Repellent Strategies
When armadillo activity is observed, temporary measures can deter the animal while preparing for permanent solutions. A straightforward method involves placing a temporary physical barrier over recently disturbed areas before nightfall. Covering fresh holes with plywood or chicken wire securely pegged into the ground prevents the armadillo from accessing that food source overnight, interrupting foraging behavior.
Sensory repellents are often limited and short-lived due to the animal’s powerful olfactory system. Strong odors like diluted white vinegar, cayenne pepper, or granular predator urine products are sometimes applied near foraging spots. Armadillos quickly learn to ignore smell-based repellents if the underlying food source remains available.
Motion-activated sprinkler systems offer a more reliable immediate deterrent by utilizing a sudden, startling burst of water. Placing these devices to cover frequent digging areas can effectively discourage the armadillo from continuing its foraging activities in that zone. The sudden movement and spray of water causes the animal to retreat, but this requires consistent deployment every evening.
Sustained Exclusion and Habitat Modification
Long-term prevention focuses on making the property undesirable by eliminating the armadillo’s food source and physically blocking access. The most effective method involves modifying the habitat by reducing the populations of subsurface invertebrates that constitute the armadillo’s diet. This can be achieved through the targeted application of biological controls, such as beneficial nematodes, which parasitize and kill grubs and other insect larvae in the soil. These microscopic organisms provide a natural, sustained way to decrease the availability of the armadillo’s preferred meal.
Chemical lawn treatments approved for grub control can also be utilized, but they must be applied precisely according to instructions for maximum efficacy. Reducing excess lawn irrigation complements these treatments, as overly moist soil attracts the insects and worms armadillos seek. Allowing the topsoil to dry out slightly makes it less inviting for invertebrate prey, reducing the foraging incentive.
Physical exclusion is a definitive method, particularly for protecting garden beds, decks, or foundation areas where burrowing causes structural damage. A permanent barrier requires fencing that is 18 to 24 inches high and extends into the ground. For security against burrowing, the fence base should be buried approximately 12 inches deep and bent outward at a 40-degree angle, creating an L-shape beneath the soil. This design forces the armadillo to dig into the barrier, prompting them to move on.
If an armadillo has established a burrow under a porch, shed, or foundation, the complexity of removal increases. Homeowners should first consult local wildlife regulations, as trapping and relocation laws vary widely. The safest course of action for entrenched animals is to contact a licensed wildlife control professional. Experts are equipped to legally and safely trap and remove the animal, followed by proper burrow exclusion using concrete or heavy-gauge wire.