Armadillos are persistent garden pests throughout the southern United States, causing noticeable damage to landscapes. These small, armored mammals possess a powerful drive to dig, tied directly to their primary foraging behavior. The characteristic signs of their presence are shallow, conical holes, typically three to five inches wide and one to three inches deep, where they root through the soil in search of prey. This nocturnal activity can quickly uproot bedding plants and bulbs, leaving flower beds in disarray.
Eliminating Underground Food Sources
The most effective, long-term strategy for deterring armadillos involves removing the incentive for their digging: the food itself. Armadillos are insectivores; insects, larvae, and earthworms make up over 90% of their diet. They use their acute sense of smell and sharp claws to locate and excavate subterranean invertebrates, particularly white grubs.
Reducing the population of these pests in the soil significantly lowers the attraction of your flower beds. Homeowners can apply chemical grub-control products or introduce beneficial nematodes (microscopic roundworms) to the soil. These nematodes parasitize and kill the grubs, effectively eliminating the armadillo’s preferred meal.
Modifying the environment also helps reduce food availability. Keeping the yard free of debris, such as woodpiles and heavy leaf litter, removes shelter for insects. Additionally, reducing excessive irrigation helps dry out the soil surface, making it less attractive to earthworms and harder for armadillos to dig.
Installing Physical Barriers
Installing a physical barrier provides immediate and reliable exclusion from vulnerable areas. Armadillos are exceptional diggers, meaning any effective fence must extend deep into the ground. Durable materials like galvanized wire mesh or hardware cloth with an opening size of one inch or less are ideal.
The mesh should extend at least 12 to 18 inches below the soil surface to prevent the armadillo from burrowing underneath. A crucial installation technique involves bending the bottom six inches of the buried mesh outward, creating an L-shaped footer. This outward bend acts as a horizontal deterrent that the armadillo encounters when attempting to dig next to the vertical barrier, frustrating their efforts.
The above-ground portion of the barrier only needs to be about 12 to 24 inches high. This combination of vertical height and a deep, outward-facing underground footer creates a complete physical barrier to protect flower beds and garden borders.
Applying Sensory Deterrents
Applying sensory deterrents aims to make the area unappealing through smell or sudden movement. Armadillos rely heavily on their sense of smell to locate prey, making strong odors a potential repellent. Commercial repellents frequently contain castor oil, which penetrates the soil to make underground food sources taste unpleasant and creates an off-putting odor.
Other scent-based options include applying capsaicin-containing compounds, like cayenne pepper, or predator urine around the perimeter of the damaged area. These topical applications require frequent reapplication, particularly after rain or heavy watering, to maintain effectiveness. Motion-activated sprinklers offer an alternative sensory deterrent, startling the nocturnal foragers with a sudden burst of water when they cross the detection zone.
Safe and Legal Removal Options
When exclusion and deterrents prove insufficient, physical removal of the animal becomes necessary. Live trapping is the most common method, utilizing a cage trap approximately 10x12x32 inches in size. Since armadillos forage by scent and often follow established paths, traps should be placed directly along these known routes or near active burrows.
Funneling the animal into the cage using boards or temporary fencing can greatly increase the success rate, as armadillos tend to walk along barriers. While bait is sometimes used, it is often ineffective because armadillos do not rely on sight or hunger cues for trapping; they simply wander into the trap set along their regular travel corridor.
It is advised to contact a local wildlife control professional for removal. Armadillos have been known to carry the bacteria that causes leprosy, and handling them poses a risk. Furthermore, the legality of trapping and relocating wildlife varies significantly by state and local jurisdiction, and improper relocation can result in fines. Professionals can ensure humane capture and adhere to all legal requirements for disposal or release.