The sudden appearance of small, cone-shaped holes across a lawn is the telltale sign of an armadillo foraging for food. These unique mammals, characterized by their bony, armored shell, have expanded their range and are becoming common suburban pests in the southern and central United States. Armadillos use their powerful claws and shovel-shaped noses to root through soil and turf, leaving behind shallow excavations and sometimes destroying entire flowerbeds overnight. Managing this yard damage requires understanding the animal’s motivation and implementing targeted strategies for exclusion and removal.
Why Armadillos Dig
The primary drive for an armadillo’s digging behavior is its diet, which consists largely of soil invertebrates, including insects, earthworms, and beetle larvae (grubs). Armadillos are insectivores and rely on their keen sense of smell to locate prey, as their eyesight is poor. This acute sense guides them as they root around, leaving behind numerous shallow holes, typically less than three inches deep and four inches wide.
Armadillos are primarily nocturnal, active during the night, dawn, and dusk hours. They spend up to 16 hours a day sleeping inside burrows, which they also dig using their powerful claws. Foraging is most pronounced when the soil is moist and soft, as this condition makes digging easier and brings invertebrates closer to the surface.
Immediate Exclusion and Physical Barriers
Physical barriers are the most effective immediate way to protect specific sections of a yard from armadillo damage. A properly installed fence acts as an exclusion barrier, preventing access to areas like gardens or flowerbeds. Armadillos are not natural climbers, but they are skilled at burrowing, so the fence design must account for this behavior.
An effective exclusion fence should be constructed of sturdy mesh, such as galvanized wire, and stand at least 12 inches tall above the ground. The buried portion must extend at least 12 inches below the surface and be bent outward at a 45-degree angle. This underground flange prevents the armadillo from digging straight down and gaining entry. For durability, vinyl-coated or heavily galvanized wire is recommended, as uncoated materials rust quickly when buried.
Short-term deterrents can offer temporary relief near localized areas of damage. Motion-activated sprinklers can startle armadillos, providing immediate deterrence. Repellents, often strong-smelling substances, have limited and inconsistent scientific support for effectiveness. These temporary methods are best used while a more lasting solution is being established.
Eliminating the Food Source
The most sustainable long-term strategy for mitigating armadillo digging is to interrupt their primary food source. By significantly reducing the population of soil-dwelling invertebrates, particularly beetle larvae, the yard becomes less attractive for foraging. This approach is an ecological management process that requires patience rather than a quick-fix solution.
Biological Controls
One biological control option is the use of beneficial nematodes, which are microscopic roundworms that parasitize and kill grubs and other soil insects. The Heterorhabditis species are particularly effective, as they are “hunters” that move deeper into the soil profile to find prey. These living organisms must be applied when soil moisture is high and during periods of low sunlight, such as early morning or evening, to ensure their survival and movement through the soil.
Another biological method involves applying milky spore powder, which contains the bacteria Paenibacillus popilliae. This bacterium specifically targets and causes disease in the grubs of the Japanese beetle. When a grub ingests the spore, the bacteria multiply, eventually killing the grub and releasing billions of new spores into the soil. For maximum effectiveness, milky spore requires multiple applications over two years to build a high concentration that can provide control for up to ten years.
Chemical and Cultural Controls
Chemical control options, such as specific insecticides targeting grub life stages, can also be applied, but timing is crucial for success. Preventative treatments are typically applied in late spring or early summer, before the eggs hatch. Curative treatments are applied in late summer or early fall when the grubs are actively feeding near the surface.
Combining control methods, such as applying beneficial nematodes after establishing milky spore, enhances effectiveness against a broader range of soil pests. Cultural practices, such as avoiding excessive watering, can further reduce the yard’s appeal by preventing insects from being drawn closer to the surface.
Safe and Legal Removal Methods
When deterrence and food source management fail to solve the problem, active removal through trapping may become necessary. Live-catch cage traps, typically sized around 12 inches by 12 inches by 32 inches, are often used for armadillos. Instead of bait, the trap is most effectively placed directly in the armadillo’s travel path, such as near a burrow entrance or along a fence line, using temporary fencing to funnel the animal directly into the cage.
Trapping an armadillo requires careful attention to the laws and regulations governing wildlife in the specific state or locality. In many jurisdictions, the relocation of trapped nuisance wildlife is illegal, often due to concerns about spreading disease or disrupting other ecosystems. State laws frequently require that a trapped nuisance animal must either be humanely euthanized or released on the same contiguous property where it was captured, often within 24 hours.
Because of the varying legal requirements and the potential for improper handling, homeowners may choose to hire a licensed professional wildlife control service. These professionals possess the necessary licenses and training to ensure that trapping, handling, and disposal or release are conducted in a safe and lawful manner. Consulting with a state’s fish and wildlife agency is an important first step to understanding the specific regulations that apply before attempting any active removal.