Yes, you can humanely remove an armadillo from your yard. Armadillos are generally not aggressive and will try to avoid confrontation. The key is to make your yard less appealing to them or to gently encourage them to leave on their own. This guide will cover various methods for armadillo removal and how to prevent them from returning, focusing on safe and effective armadillo exclusion techniques.
Why Armadillos Visit Your Yard
Armadillos, particularly the Nine-banded Armadillo, have expanded their range significantly. They are primarily insectivores, meaning their diet consists mainly of insects, grubs, earthworms, and other invertebrates found in the soil. This is the biggest reason they’ll dig in your yard.
What Attracts Them:
- Food Sources: Grubs, ants, termites, beetles, and other insects are a major draw. If your lawn has a healthy population of these, armadillos will see it as a buffet.
- Moist Soil: Armadillos prefer moist, soft soil for digging. Overwatering your lawn or areas with poor drainage can make it more attractive for them to search for food and create burrows.
- Shelter: Armadillos need safe places to sleep and escape predators. They create burrows in the ground, often under sheds, decks, porches, woodpiles, or dense vegetation.
- Water: While they can get moisture from their food, access to water sources like puddles or leaky faucets can also be an attraction.
Dealing with an Armadillo in Your Yard
Encountering an armadillo digging in your garden or lawn can be frustrating, especially if they create holes or damage your plants. The goal is to humanely remove armadillo presence and get rid of armadillos without causing them harm.
Making Your Yard Less Inviting
The most effective long-term strategy is to make your yard unappealing to armadillos. This involves addressing the attractants that bring them there in the first place.
Food Source Management
- Grub Control: This is crucial. Armadillos dig for grubs. Applying a grub control treatment to your lawn can significantly reduce their food supply.
- Beneficial Nematodes: These microscopic worms are natural predators of grubs and are a chemical-free solution.
- Milky Spore: This is a bacterium that specifically targets Japanese beetle grubs, another common food source.
- Chemical Insecticides: If you opt for chemical treatments, follow label instructions carefully and consider the impact on other beneficial insects and wildlife.
- Reduce Insect Populations: While you can’t eliminate all insects, keeping outdoor lights off when not needed can reduce the number of insects attracted to your home. Seal any cracks or openings where insects might enter your house.
Habitat Modification
- Eliminate Shelter: Armadillos love to burrow. Check for and remove potential shelter spots:
- Under Sheds and Decks: Seal off openings with sturdy wire mesh (like hardware cloth).
- Woodpiles: Keep woodpiles neat and elevated, away from your house.
- Dense Vegetation: Trim back overgrown bushes and remove brush piles.
- Address Water Sources: Fix leaky faucets and eliminate standing water.
Encouraging Them to Leave
Once you’ve made your yard less attractive, you can use methods to encourage the armadillo to move on.
Natural Deterrents
- Strong Smells: Armadillos have a keen sense of smell and can be deterred by strong odors.
- Castor Oil: Spraying a solution of castor oil and water around the perimeter of your yard and any burrow entrances can be effective. A common mixture is 2 tablespoons of castor oil per gallon of water. Reapply after rain.
- Ammonia: Soaking rags in ammonia and placing them around the yard can deter them. The smell can be unpleasant for humans too, so use this sparingly and strategically.
- Cayenne Pepper/Red Pepper Flakes: Sprinkling these around affected areas can irritate their snouts when they dig. Be cautious, as this can also affect pets and children.
- Mothballs: While sometimes suggested, mothballs are toxic and can be harmful to children and pets. It’s generally better to avoid them.
- Sound and Vibration: Armadillos can be sensitive to noise and vibrations.
- Motion-Activated Sprinklers: These can startle an armadillo and encourage it to leave.
- Ultrasonic Devices: The effectiveness of these devices is debated, but some people find them helpful. They emit high-frequency sounds that are meant to be annoying to pests.
Gentle Encouragement
- One-Way Doors: This is a very effective method for armadillo exclusion. You can purchase or build a one-way door that allows the armadillo to leave its burrow but prevents it from re-entering. You’ll need to find the main entrance to the burrow.
- How to Use:
- Locate the main entrance of the armadillo burrow.
- Securely attach the one-way door over the entrance. This often involves using stakes or wire mesh.
- Wait a few days. The armadillo should exit at night to forage and won’t be able to get back in.
- Once you are sure the armadillo has left, remove the door and seal the burrow entrance permanently with gravel, concrete, or sturdy wire mesh.
- How to Use:
Live Trapping an Armadillo
If other methods fail, capture armadillo using a live trap. This is a more direct approach to wildlife removal armadillo.
Live Trap Guidelines
- Trap Type: Use a live animal trap that is large enough for an armadillo (around 30-36 inches long). Ensure the trap is sturdy and has a reliable closing mechanism.
- Baiting the Trap:
- Common Bait: Mealworms, earthworms, or a small amount of canned cat food (with liver) can be effective bait. Place the bait at the back of the trap.
- Placement: Place the trap near the burrow entrance or along their common pathways.
- Monitoring: Check the trap frequently, at least twice a day (morning and evening). It’s crucial to check it often to prevent the animal from becoming stressed, dehydrated, or exposed to extreme weather.
- Handling the Trapped Animal:
- Cover the Trap: Once the armadillo is caught, cover the trap with a blanket or tarp. This can help calm the animal.
- Wear Gloves: Always wear thick gloves when handling a trapped armadillo. They can bite if they feel threatened, though their primary defense is to curl into a ball (only three-banded armadillos can do this) or dig rapidly.
- Relocation: If you trap an armadillo, you will need to relocate it. Check your local wildlife regulations. Some areas have specific rules about trapping and relocating wildlife. It’s often best to release it in a suitable habitat several miles away, in an area with plenty of food and shelter, and away from residential areas.
Important Considerations for Trapping:
- Legality: Ensure trapping is legal in your area and that you have the necessary permits if required.
- Humane Practices: Always prioritize the animal’s well-being. Avoid trapping during extreme heat or cold. Never leave a trapped animal unattended for extended periods.
- Baby Armadillos: Be aware that armadillos can have young in their burrows during certain times of the year. If you suspect there might be babies, it’s best to wait or consult a wildlife professional.
Preventing Future Armadillo Visits
Once you’ve successfully removed an armadillo, the next step is to keep armadillos away and stop armadillo digging by making your yard consistently uninviting.
Physical Barriers
- Fencing: A physical barrier is one of the most effective ways to deter armadillos from yard.
- Type of Fence: Use a sturdy fence, at least 2-3 feet high.
- Depth: The key is to bury the fence at least 12-18 inches into the ground. Armadillos are excellent diggers, so they can burrow under a fence that isn’t properly installed.
- Material: Use strong wire mesh, like hardware cloth or chicken wire. Ensure there are no gaps at the bottom.
- Wire Mesh Under Structures: As mentioned earlier, secure wire mesh around the base of sheds, decks, and porches to prevent them from becoming shelters.
Ongoing Maintenance
- Regular Lawn Care: Maintain a healthy lawn. A well-maintained lawn with good drainage is less attractive to burrowing animals.
- Reduce Water: Avoid overwatering your lawn.
- Cleanliness: Keep your yard tidy, removing potential hiding spots like dense ground cover or debris.
- Reapply Deterrents: Periodically reapply natural deterrents like castor oil spray, especially after rain, to maintain their effectiveness.
When to Call a Professional
If you are uncomfortable with DIY methods, dealing with a persistent infestation, or concerned about the legality of your actions, it’s time to contact a professional.
Signs You Need a Wildlife Removal Expert:
- Multiple Burrows: If there are numerous burrows across your property, it might indicate a family of armadillos or a more extensive problem.
- Damage: If the armadillo is causing significant damage to your lawn, garden, or structures.
- Inaccessibility: If the burrow is in a difficult-to-reach location, like under a foundation.
- Uncertainty: If you are unsure about local regulations or the best approach.
Wildlife removal armadillo specialists have the experience and equipment to safely and humanely remove armadillos and advise on the best long-term exclusion strategies. They can also help identify and address the specific attractants on your property.
Common Armadillo Behavior
To better manage armadillos, it’s helpful to know a bit about their habits.
Nocturnal Habits
Armadillos are primarily nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. You might see them foraging in your yard at dusk, dawn, or throughout the night. They spend their days in their burrows.
Digging and Foraging
Their powerful claws are designed for digging. They dig to find food, create burrows, and escape predators. This digging is often what causes noticeable damage to lawns and gardens. They typically dig shallow holes while foraging but can excavate larger, deeper burrows for shelter.
Senses
Armadillos have poor eyesight but an excellent sense of smell, which they use to locate their prey underground. They also have good hearing.
Defensive Behavior
As mentioned, armadillos are not aggressive. Their main defense mechanisms are:
- Speed: They can run surprisingly fast for short distances.
- Digging: They can dig incredibly quickly to escape threats.
- Armored Shell: Their bony plates offer protection.
- Curling: Only the three-banded armadillo species can roll into a tight ball for protection, but this is rare in most areas.
Troubleshooting Common Armadillo Issues
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Persistent Digging and Holes | Focus on stop armadillo digging by removing food sources (grub control). Implement armadillo deterrents like castor oil spray. Consider a fence buried 12-18 inches deep to prevent burrowing. |
| Armadillo Under a Shed/Deck | Seal all openings with wire mesh (hardware cloth). Install a one-way door to allow the armadillo to exit, then seal the entrance permanently. |
| Armadillo Not Leaving with Deterrents | If natural deterrents aren’t working, the armadillo may be very accustomed to the area or the deterrents aren’t strong enough. Try a different combination of deterrents, ensure they are applied frequently, or consider live trapping as a next step. |
| Concerned About Baby Armadillos | If you suspect babies are present (usually between March and August), it’s best to avoid trapping or sealing burrows until the young are mobile. Consult a wildlife professional for guidance on humane removal during this period. |
| Damage to Gardens/Landscaping | Protect vulnerable plants with fencing or wire mesh. Use raised beds to make digging more difficult. Ensure your garden beds are not excessively moist, as this attracts them. |
| Armadillo Seems Sick or Injured | Do not approach a sick or injured armadillo. Contact your local animal control or a wildlife rehabilitation center for advice and assistance. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can armadillos hurt me?
Armadillos are not aggressive and will generally avoid humans. Their primary defense is to flee or dig. They can bite if cornered or handled, but their bite is usually not severe. They can also carry diseases like leprosy, though transmission to humans is extremely rare. It’s best to admire them from a distance and avoid direct contact.
Are armadillos dangerous to pets?
Armadillos are generally not a direct threat to pets. However, they can dig holes that pets might fall into, and their bites can cause minor injuries if a pet corners one. The main concern for pets regarding armadillos is the rare possibility of contracting leprosy if a pet eats a sick armadillo, which is unlikely to happen.
How do I know if an armadillo is in my yard?
Look for signs of digging, especially shallow trenches in lawns and gardens. You might also find larger burrow entrances, typically 6-8 inches in diameter, often hidden under bushes, decks, or in overgrown areas. You might also see them directly at dusk or dawn.
Can I kill an armadillo?
Killing armadillos is often unnecessary and not the most humane approach. In many areas, it may also be illegal. Focusing on humanely remove armadillo and deterring them from your property is the recommended and most effective long-term solution.
How do I get rid of armadillo holes?
Once you have confirmed the armadillo is gone and the burrow is empty, fill the holes. Use soil and compost, compact it well, and then reseed if necessary. For larger burrows, you may need to fill them with gravel or sand first before covering with soil. Consider reinforcing the area with wire mesh if it was a frequently used burrow entrance.
What are the best armadillo deterrents?
Effective armadillo deterrents include strong smells like castor oil spray or ammonia-soaked rags. Physical barriers like properly installed fencing are also excellent deterrents. Making your yard less appealing by controlling insect populations is a key preventative measure.
By following these guidelines, you can effectively manage armadillo activity in your yard, ensuring a safe and peaceful coexistence or a successful removal and exclusion, ultimately helping to keep armadillos away for good.