The nine-banded armadillo is an armor-plated mammal known for its persistent digging habits. As this species has expanded its range across the southern United States, it has increasingly encountered residential areas. The primary attraction of a manicured yard stems from a predictable set of environmental factors and readily available resources. Identifying these specific draws explains why these nocturnal foragers choose to make a home and forage in human-altered landscapes.
Primary Attraction: Abundant Food Sources
The presence of a rich, easily accessible food supply is the greatest factor drawing armadillos to a residential property. These animals are insectivores, with their diet consisting of over 90% soil invertebrates. They possess a keen sense of smell that allows them to detect prey several inches beneath the surface, even in total darkness.
Their preferred menu includes subterranean pests such as white grubs, beetle larvae, earthworms, ants, and termites. Yards often provide a concentrated food source because consistent watering and fertilization create an environment where these invertebrates thrive near the soil line. Foraging involves rooting with their snouts and digging small, characteristic cone-shaped pits that are typically one to three inches deep and three to five inches wide as they search for a meal.
The damage caused by armadillos is a direct consequence of this feeding strategy, as they systematically excavate these shallow holes across lawns and flower beds. When an armadillo discovers a dense concentration of prey, such as an ant or termite colony, the digging becomes more intense.
Ideal Conditions for Shelter and Burrowing
Beyond food, armadillos require secure, protected spaces to create burrows for rest, thermoregulation, and raising young. A single armadillo may maintain a system of multiple burrows throughout its territory. These tunnels serve as a defense against predators and provide refuge from extreme weather, as the animals spend more time underground during summer heat and winter cold.
They seek locations that offer natural concealment and structural support for their extensive tunnels. Ideal sites often include areas beneath dense shrubbery, at the base of mature trees, under porches, or alongside building foundations. The burrow entrance itself is usually about six to eight inches in diameter and can lead to a tunnel system that extends anywhere from four to twenty-four feet in length and up to five feet deep.
The presence of a woodpile or a thicket of brush also proves attractive, as these materials offer immediate, secure overhead cover. For nesting, the armadillo will line the deepest chamber, which can be eighteen inches in diameter, with gathered grass and leaves. This need for a stable, hidden shelter means they frequently utilize the protected margins of a yard adjacent to a house or fence line.
Secondary Environmental Draw
Certain environmental conditions in a yard can make the soil easier to manipulate, serving as a secondary draw for armadillos. Soil texture is a significant factor, as the animals prefer loose, sandy, or loamy compositions over heavy clay soils because they require less effort to excavate. This preference influences where they choose to forage and establish burrows.
High moisture content in the soil makes digging easier for their powerful claws. Heavily irrigated lawns or areas with poor drainage are attractive, especially during drought. Damp soil facilitates excavation and tends to keep insect prey closer to the surface, making them simpler targets.
Landscaping choices can inadvertently create microclimates that appeal to armadillos. For example, thick layers of mulch or ground cover retain moisture and warmth, which encourages the proliferation of the insects they eat.