Armadillos are often the culprit behind freshly dug holes and uprooted plants. These creatures are expanding their range, bringing destructive foraging habits to new territories. Stopping the damage requires a systematic approach that addresses the animal’s motivations and limits its access to your property. The following steps provide practical methods for homeowners dealing with this nuisance.
Understanding Why Armadillos Dig
Armadillos use their keen sense of smell to locate food buried beneath the soil. Their diet consists almost entirely of invertebrates, primarily earthworms, beetle larvae, and white grubs. This constant search for buried prey is the main reason they create characteristic damage in lawns.
The damage is typically identified by multiple shallow, conical holes, usually measuring between three and five inches deep and wide. This differs from the larger patches of overturned turf left by skunks or raccoons. Armadillos also dig burrows for shelter, which are much larger, sometimes extending up to 15 feet in length, and often found near foundations, brush piles, or dense vegetation.
Modifying the Landscape to Remove Attractants
The most effective long-term strategy is to eliminate the armadillos’ primary food source, encouraging them to seek sustenance elsewhere. This requires targeted management of the soil’s invertebrate population. Homeowners can use biological controls like beneficial nematodes, which prey on grubs and larvae, offering a natural reduction in the food supply.
If chemical control is necessary, timing the application is important for maximum effect. Preventive treatments, often containing ingredients like imidacloprid or chlorantraniliprole, should be applied in late spring or early summer (May through July) to target newly hatched grubs. Curative treatments, using products like carbaryl or trichlorfon, are applied later, typically in late summer or early fall (August through October), when grubs are actively feeding and damage is visible.
Armadillos prefer soft, moist soil because it is easier to dig through, especially during dry periods when they may also be seeking water. Reducing the frequency of lawn irrigation, or managing drainage to prevent overly saturated areas, makes the yard less attractive. Clearing yard debris, such as brush piles and thick groundcover, removes potential shelter and nesting sites, discouraging the animals from settling on the property.
Implementing Physical Barriers and Exclusion Techniques
When removing the food source is not enough, physical exclusion offers an immediate and reliable method for protecting specific areas. Perimeter fencing must prevent both climbing and tunneling underneath. An effective armadillo fence should stand at least 12 inches high above ground and be built with sturdy materials like galvanized wire mesh.
The key step for exclusion is burying the bottom of the fence material. A trench should be dug 12 to 18 inches deep, and the mesh should be bent outward at a 90-degree angle to create an “L” shape, or L-footer. This horizontal apron, facing away from the protected area, acts as a barrier the armadillo encounters when it attempts to dig down, blocking its path. This technique is effective around vulnerable areas like gardens, flower beds, and foundations.
Inspect structures like porches, sheds, and decks for any openings. Armadillos readily use these areas for burrows, which can lead to structural damage over time. Sealing these gaps with heavy-gauge hardware cloth or concrete prevents them from establishing a permanent den.
Guidelines for Safe and Legal Removal
If exclusion methods fail and the animal must be physically removed, live trapping is an option, though it requires specific techniques. Armadillos have poor eyesight and an instinct-driven diet, meaning traditional baits are largely ineffective and often attract non-target animals like raccoons or skunks. Armadillos are just as likely to enter an unbaited trap as a baited one.
Successful trapping relies on proper placement and a funneling technique. A large cage trap, approximately 10x12x32 inches, should be placed directly along a known travel path, such as an active burrow entrance or a fence line. Boards or temporary wire fencing, often called “wings,” should be used to create a funnel that guides the animal directly into the trap.
Before attempting any trapping or removal, check local and state wildlife regulations. Laws regarding the trapping, relocation, and humane disposal of armadillos vary significantly by municipality and state. Where the armadillo is considered a non-native species, relocation is often prohibited, meaning the animal must be euthanized or released on-site. If you are in doubt regarding legal compliance or dealing with a complex infestation, contact a licensed wildlife control operator.