The Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is the common species found throughout the southern United States, where it is often considered a nuisance animal. Recognized by its unique bony shell, this mammal is a prolific digger, which is the primary source of conflict with homeowners. Armadillos constantly root through soil and create burrows in their search for food and shelter, leading to significant landscape and property damage. Understanding their specific behaviors is the first step toward implementing effective measures to remove them and prevent their return.
Identifying Armadillo Activity and Damage
Properly identifying armadillo activity is the beginning of successful control, as their damage can sometimes be mistaken for that of skunks, raccoons, or moles. The most common sign of foraging is the appearance of multiple shallow, conical, or funnel-shaped holes dug into the turf. These excavations are typically one to three inches deep and about three to five inches wide, resulting from the armadillo using its long snout to probe and its sharp claws to dig for insects and grubs.
Armadillos also cause more substantial, long-term damage by creating larger burrows for shelter. These burrows, which are generally football-sized openings, are often found near or underneath structures like porches, sheds, wood piles, and home foundations. Digging in these locations can compromise structural integrity, leading to cracked concrete and weakened foundations. Evidence of these large burrows, along with scattered soil and uprooted plants, confirms the presence of an armadillo rather than a smaller, shallow-digging pest.
Making Your Property Less Appealing
The most effective long-term strategy for armadillo control involves making your property less attractive to them through environmental modification and exclusion. Armadillos are strongly drawn to environments with loose, moist soil, which makes digging easier and brings their invertebrate food sources closer to the surface. Modifying irrigation practices by allowing the lawn to dry out, especially in the evening, can make the soil harder to work and thus less desirable for foraging.
Habitat modification involves removing potential daytime shelter sites and sealing gaps around home foundations, under porches, and along the edges of decks to prevent destructive burrows. For specific areas like gardens, exclusion fencing is a reliable physical barrier. This barrier should be constructed using heavy-gauge wire mesh, extending at least 12 inches above ground and buried 12 to 18 inches deep, angled outward.
Removing the armadillo’s primary food source, which consists of earthworms, insect larvae, and grubs, can significantly deter their activity. Applying insecticides to the lawn or introducing beneficial nematodes reduces the subterranean insect population. Although this method can take time to be fully effective, it addresses the root cause of their presence. Consistent application of these preventative measures encourages armadillos to relocate naturally.
Safe and Legal Removal Strategies
Once an armadillo is established, active removal typically involves live trapping, as repellents have proven largely ineffective. The most successful method utilizes a large, sturdy live cage trap, ideally measuring 12 inches by 12 inches by 32 inches, with a door on one or both ends. Placing the trap is more important than baiting, since armadillos have poor eyesight and primarily forage by smell, meaning they do not easily recognize surface bait.
Traps should be placed directly in the armadillo’s known travel paths, which are usually along walls, fences, or in a straight line leading to the burrow entrance. To increase the chance of capture, wildlife control professionals often use guiding materials, such as wooden planks or fencing, placed in a V-shape to funnel the armadillo directly into the trap opening. While some trappers use earthworms, spoiled fruit, or mealworms as bait, the armadillo’s natural instinct to dig for food means that effective baiting is difficult and often attracts non-target animals like raccoons.
Common deterrents, such as mothballs, ammonia-soaked rags, or commercial scent repellents, are generally ineffective because armadillos are highly motivated by the search for food. Once an armadillo is successfully trapped, the next step must comply with local wildlife regulations, which vary significantly by state and county. In many areas, including states like Florida and Texas, relocation is prohibited because transporting them can spread disease.
When to Call for Professional Assistance
DIY armadillo removal carries risks and is not always permitted, making professional intervention a necessary step in many cases. State and local regulations regarding the capture, transport, and disposal of nuisance wildlife are complex and frequently require a licensed wildlife control operator (WCO). For instance, while a homeowner may be allowed to trap an armadillo, the legal options for what can be done with the animal afterward—such as on-site release or humane euthanasia—are strictly regulated.
Beyond compliance, safety is a significant concern, as armadillos are one of the few non-human mammals that can carry the bacteria causing leprosy (Mycobacterium leprae). Although transmission risk is low, direct handling of the animal or contact with excavated soil should be avoided without appropriate protective gear. Licensed professionals are trained to handle the animal safely and are aware of the risks associated with leprosy and other potential pathogens.
Professional assistance is also advisable when burrows are located near the home’s foundation or underground utility lines, as these deep excavations can lead to significant structural damage. A WCO has the expertise and specialized equipment to confirm the extent of the infestation and implement a permanent exclusion plan that addresses the risk to the building. If multiple attempts at trapping or exclusion have failed, or if the infestation is large, consulting a professional ensures efficient and compliant removal.