The nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus, is the only armadillo species found in the United States, and its foraging habits often bring it into conflict with property owners. These nocturnal mammals cause cosmetic and structural damage by rooting through lawns, flowerbeds, and gardens in search of food. The disruption is characterized by shallow, cone-shaped holes, typically 1 to 3 inches deep and 3 to 5 inches wide, which can quickly ruin manicured landscaping. Understanding the armadillo’s motivations is the first step in managing its presence, shifting the focus from simple deterrence to targeted environmental modification.
Analyzing the Efficacy of Commercial Repellents
There is no scientifically validated chemical compound that consistently repels armadillos long-term. Although armadillos possess a keen sense of smell, which they use to locate food, this does not translate into sensitivity to common odor-based deterrents. Many commonly marketed or homemade repellents, such as granular products containing castor oil, predator urine, or household items like mothballs, are largely ineffective. Mothballs, in particular, contain naphthalene, a toxic substance harmful to pets and the environment, and fail to deter digging.
Devices relying on sound or vibration are equally ineffective due to the armadillo’s poor eyesight and adaptation to minor environmental disturbances. Sonic emitters or vibrational stakes create a disturbance, but armadillos are adapted to ignoring the minor vibrations and noises that occur naturally in their environment. A successful control strategy must focus on what drives the armadillo’s behavior, rather than attempting to annoy the animal with short-lived sensory irritants.
Addressing the Armadillo’s Primary Motivation: Food Sources
Armadillos are insectivores, and their digging is driven by the search for subterranean prey, which constitutes over 90% of their diet. Their preferred menu includes beetle larvae, white grubs, earthworms, and other invertebrates found just beneath the soil surface. Eliminating or significantly reducing this food source is one of the most practical strategies for encouraging armadillos to leave a property.
Targeted pest control methods can be employed to manage the populations of grubs and larvae that attract the animals. Applying beneficial nematodes, which are microscopic, naturally occurring roundworms, provides biological control by parasitizing soil-dwelling pests without harming plants or other wildlife. Alternatively, specific, targeted insecticides can be applied to the lawn during the correct season, though this requires careful timing to effectively eliminate the larval stage of beetles.
Soil moisture is another factor attracting armadillos, as they prefer soft, moist ground where insects thrive and digging is easier. Reducing excessive irrigation or fixing leaky sprinkler systems helps dry out the soil, making it less hospitable for both the armadillo’s prey and foraging. A consistently drier soil profile prompts the armadillo to seek feeding grounds elsewhere.
Implementing Physical Barriers and Exclusion Techniques
Physical exclusion techniques are superior to any repellent or food-reduction strategy for long-term control. Fencing and physical barriers prevent access to the property. A fence constructed of sturdy wire mesh or hardware cloth is required, as armadillos are adept at both climbing and burrowing.
The barrier must be installed with specific dimensions to be fully effective against their digging habits. The mesh should extend at least 12 to 18 inches below the ground surface to prevent tunneling underneath the barrier. Above ground, the fence should stand at least 12 inches high, and angling the top portion outward at a 40-degree angle discourages climbing attempts.
To protect vulnerable structures like porches, decks, or foundations, a buried barrier of hardware cloth can be installed around the perimeter. This buried mesh should be secured to the bottom of the structure and extend outward horizontally in an ‘L’ shape before being covered with soil. When dealing with an existing burrow, a one-way exclusion door can be installed over the entrance, allowing the animal to exit but preventing its return, after which the burrow should be permanently sealed.