Armadillos are known for the destructive digging they inflict upon lawns and gardens, leaving behind trails of small, conical holes and disturbed soil. This persistent damage is why homeowners seek solutions to repel the armored mammal. Effective armadillo control requires a comprehensive strategy that addresses the animal’s fundamental instinct and motivation, rather than applying a single product. Understanding what drives this nocturnal digging is the first step toward a successful long-term solution.
Understanding Armadillo Behavior and Damage
The common nine-banded armadillo is driven by a relentless search for food, using its acute sense of smell to locate prey beneath the soil surface. Their diet consists overwhelmingly of invertebrates, including earthworms, insect larvae, and beetle grubs. The resulting damage is identifiable as multiple shallow holes, typically three to five inches wide and up to six inches deep, which are distinct from the smaller holes left by skunks or squirrels.
Armadillos also occasionally dig larger burrows for shelter, often situated under dense brush, concrete slabs, or porches. While less frequent than foraging, this burrow construction can cause structural problems near foundations. Moist soil, often due to over-irrigation, attracts armadillos because it is easier to dig and brings their prey closer to the surface.
Eliminating the Primary Attraction (Food)
Since armadillo digging is a foraging behavior, one of the most effective long-term control strategies is removing its primary food source from the soil. Targeting the population of grubs and other insect larvae in the lawn makes the area less appealing for foraging. Soil treatments can be applied to reduce the subterranean insect population, thus removing the motivation for the armadillo to dig.
One approach involves using chemical grub control products, applied at specific times of the year to target the most vulnerable stage of the insect life cycle. A more biologically focused method utilizes beneficial nematodes, microscopic roundworms that parasitize and kill pest larvae in the soil. These nematodes, such as Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, are a natural option applied by mixing them with water and spraying them over the lawn.
After applying a treatment to eliminate the food source, armadillo damage may temporarily increase. As their familiar food supply dwindles, the animals may dig more frantically to locate remaining prey before moving to a different foraging area. Controlling soil moisture by reducing irrigation is also beneficial, as drier soil is harder to dig and less attractive to insects, compounding the grub control efforts.
Physical Barriers for Exclusion
Physical exclusion is the most reliable method for protecting specific areas, such as gardens, flower beds, or the perimeter of a structure. Armadillos are poor climbers but excellent diggers, meaning any effective barrier must extend well below the ground surface. Fencing material, such as heavy-gauge hardware cloth or vinyl-coated chain link, should be used for durability and resistance to rust.
To prevent burrowing, the fence should be buried at least 12 to 18 inches deep into the ground. For maximum effectiveness, the buried portion can be bent outward at a 90-degree angle, forming an “L” shape facing away from the protected area, which deters tunneling attempts. Above ground, a height of at least 12 to 24 inches is sufficient to prevent them from climbing over the barrier.
Effectiveness of Scent and Chemical Products
Many commercial products are marketed as armadillo repellents, but they frequently offer inconsistent or unreliable results because they fail to address the animal’s fundamental drive to find food. Scent-based deterrents, such as those containing naphthalene (mothballs) or predator urine, are largely ineffective. Armadillos are often observed digging right through or next to these deterrents, as the motivation to feed outweighs any mild discomfort from an unfamiliar smell.
Castor oil-based products are commonly sold, aiming to make underground food sources taste bad. While some anecdotal success is reported, these products require heavy and frequent reapplication, especially after rain, to maintain concentration in the soil. Relying solely on commercial chemical or scent repellents is often considered a waste of resources, as successful control strategies involve modifying the habitat by eliminating the food source or installing physical barriers.