Armadillos cause significant property damage through their constant rooting and burrowing activity in search of food. Removing these armored mammals often requires live trapping, which presents a unique challenge because armadillos are notoriously difficult to lure with conventional bait. Their poor eyesight and tendency to rely on scent and fixed travel patterns mean that successful capture hinges less on the bait material itself and more on the precise location of the trap. Understanding the animal’s natural behavior is the first step toward effective removal.
Selecting the Right Attractants
Armadillos are primarily insectivores, meaning their diet consists almost entirely of invertebrates they dig out of the soil, such as grubs, earthworms, and other insect larvae. This natural foraging behavior is why standard baits used for other mammals, like fruits, vegetables, or peanut butter, are almost entirely ineffective. An armadillo’s instinct is to excavate its food from beneath the surface, not to eat a stationary meal lying on top of the ground.
The best materials to use as attractants are those that mimic their natural prey, such as fresh earthworms, mealworms, or live grubs. If used, these should be placed directly inside the trap entrance, not deep within the cage, to prevent the animal from reaching in and retreating. Strong-smelling items like spoiled meat or overripe fruit may attract armadillos, but they often lure non-target animals like raccoons or opossums. Many professionals skip bait entirely, as food sources increase the chance of trapping the wrong animal.
Optimizing Trap Placement and Setup
The most successful armadillo trapping strategy focuses on exploiting the animal’s predictable travel habits and poor visual acuity rather than relying on food bait. Armadillos follow established paths, often hugging vertical structures like fence lines, house foundations, or dense vegetation edges. The trap must be placed directly in line with these active travel corridors, ensuring the entrance is flush with the ground so the armadillo can walk in easily.
The technique of “funneling” is the most important factor for guaranteeing a catch. This involves using temporary barriers, such as wooden boards or chicken wire, to create a V-shaped or Y-shaped guide leading directly into the trap opening. These barriers should extend several feet outward from the trap, forcing the armadillo to encounter the trap as it follows its path. Because the armadillo has limited vision, it will follow the physical barrier straight into the cage.
Positioning the trap directly over the entrance of an active burrow or along the worn path leading to it is another effective placement strategy. Armadillos are creatures of habit and will repeatedly use the same routes to enter and exit their dens. The trap should be secured to the ground, often by placing a heavy brick on top, to prevent the animal from moving or overturning the cage once captured.
Handling and Long-Term Exclusion
Handling and Relocation
Once an armadillo is successfully captured, safety is the primary concern when handling the trap. Always wear thick, protective gloves when moving the cage and keep it away from your body during transport. Before releasing the animal, check local and state wildlife regulations, as laws vary greatly regarding the relocation of nuisance wildlife, with some regions prohibiting it entirely.
Long-Term Exclusion
After removal, focus on long-term exclusion to prevent new armadillos from moving into the vacated territory. The most effective method is to remove their primary food source by treating the lawn for grubs and other soil-dwelling insects. You should also fill in any existing burrows with soil or gravel to deter others from reusing the den. Installing a physical barrier, such as a sturdy fence that extends at least one foot below the soil surface, will prevent armadillos from entering the yard entirely.