Effective Ways How To Get Rid Of An Armadillo In Your Yard

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Effective Ways How To Get Rid Of An Armadillo In Your Yard

Armadillos can cause big problems in your yard. They dig looking for food. This leaves small holes everywhere or even messes up your lawn. If you see these signs, you likely have an armadillo visitor. Getting rid of them helps keep your yard nice.

Discovering an Armadillo Problem

Armadillos are strange animals. They have tough shells. They look a bit like small tanks. They are often out at night. You might not see the animal itself. But you will see what it does.

Signs an Armadillo Is Around

How can you tell if an armadillo is living near you? Look for these clues:

• Small Holes: These are often 1 to 3 inches wide and deep. They look like something poked the ground with a stick. The armadillo makes these holes to find bugs. This is a key sign of armadillo digging holes.
• Upturned Soil: Sometimes, they don’t just make holes. They can root around like a pig. They turn over dirt, especially in garden beds or under bushes.
• Damage to Plants: While they mostly eat bugs, their digging can hurt plant roots. This leads to plants not growing well or even dying.
• Patches of Dead Grass: When they dig a lot, they can kill patches of grass. This makes ugly brown spots on your green lawn.
• Larger Burrows: They dig bigger tunnels to live in. These tunnels are their homes. You might see the entrance to one of these. These are signs of armadillo burrow removal being needed later.

Spotting these things helps you know you have a problem. This is the start of armadillo damage control.

What Armadillos Look For

Armadillos are mostly after food. This is the main reason they dig.

• What do armadillos eat? Their main food is insects. They love things like grubs, worms, beetles, and ants. They sniff them out underground. Your yard might have lots of these bugs. This brings the armadillos in. They also sometimes eat small bits of fruit or dead animals, but bugs are their favorite.
• Shelter: They also need a safe place to hide. They dig burrows under porches, sheds, thick bushes, or tree roots. These burrows are their homes and safe spots.

If your yard has lots of bugs or easy places to dig burrows, it’s like a welcome sign for them.

Why Armadillos Come to Your Yard

Knowing why they visit helps you stop them. It’s about making your yard less nice for them.

The Pull of Food

As we said, armadillos love bugs. A yard full of tasty grubs is a feast for them. If your lawn care makes many grubs, you might get armadillos. Using certain bug killers can sometimes remove their food. But this is not always the best first step. It can hurt good bugs too.

Places to Hide

Armadillos feel safe in their burrows. A yard with easy places to dig burrows is good for them.

• Under buildings: A porch or shed with space underneath is a prime spot.
• Dense plants: Thick bushes offer cover while they dig.
• Woodpiles: Piles of wood can hide burrow entrances.

Removing easy places to dig makes your yard less safe for them.

Keeping Armadillos Out (Preventing Visits)

The best way to deal with armadillos is to stop them from coming. This is called prevent armadillos in yard. Making your yard less appealing is key.

Block Their Entry

Armadillos can climb a little, but not well. A good fence is a big help.

• Fence Height: Fences should be at least 2 feet tall.
• Fence Depth: Armadillos can dig under fences. The fence needs to go into the ground. Bury the bottom of the fence at least 1 foot deep. Angle it outwards like an ‘L’ shape buried under the dirt. This makes it harder for them to dig under.
• Type of Fence: A sturdy mesh or wire fence works well. Make sure the holes in the mesh are small enough.
• Close Gaps: Check for holes under gates or where the fence meets the house. Close these gaps. Use sturdy wire mesh or concrete.

This physical barrier makes it hard for them to get in.

Remove Food Sources

Less food means less reason for them to stay.

• Limit Grubs: You can treat your lawn for grubs. This removes their main food source. There are bug killers made for grubs. Be careful how you use them. Read the label. Some products can harm other things. You can also look into natural ways to reduce grubs.
• Clean Up Yard Waste: Keep your yard clean. Fallen fruits or berries attract bugs, which then attract armadillos. Remove brush piles or leaf piles where bugs live.
• Secure Trash: Keep trash cans closed tightly. Armadillos might check them out for food scraps.

Reducing their food supply is a major step in prevent armadillos in yard efforts.

Make Shelter Undesirable

Make places where they might dig burrows less appealing.

• Block Access: Close off spaces under decks, porches, and sheds. Use strong wire mesh buried underground.
• Manage Landscaping: Keep bushes trimmed up off the ground. This makes it harder for them to hide while digging.
• Remove Debris: Get rid of woodpiles, junk piles, or thick ground cover near buildings.

Removing easy shelter spots helps prevent new burrows.

Trying Repellents

Some people try using smells or tastes armadillos don’t like. This is using natural armadillo repellent or other types. The success of repellents can vary.

What Repellents Do

Repellents try to make an area unpleasant for the animal. They hope the armadillo will go somewhere else.

• Smell Repellents: Some use smells from animals that might hunt armadillos. Coyote urine is one example. Others use strong smells like garlic, vinegar, or hot pepper.
• Taste Repellents: These are put on plants or ground and taste bad to the armadillo.

Natural Options

Using natural armadillo repellent is preferred by some people.

• Castor Oil: Mixing castor oil with water and spraying it on the lawn is a common method. The smell and taste are said to be disliked by armadillos and the bugs they eat.
  • How to use: Mix about 6-8 ounces of castor oil with 1 gallon of water and a little dish soap. Spray the areas where they are digging. Repeat after rain or watering.
• Garlic or Pepper Sprays: Strong smells like garlic or hot pepper can bother armadillos.
  • How to use: Blend garlic cloves or hot peppers with water. Strain and spray the liquid. Be careful not to get it in your eyes or on skin.

Other Repellents

You can buy commercial repellents. Many use ingredients like predator urine or strong plant oils.

• Important Note: Repellents often need to be used again and again, especially after rain. Their effectiveness is not always guaranteed. Some armadillos might just ignore them. They work best when combined with other methods like preventing access and removing food.

Using repellents is one tool. It’s not a magic fix.

Catching the Armadillo

Sometimes, you need to catch the armadillo to remove it. This means using a trap. Choosing the best armadillo trap is important.

Trapping Rules

Before trapping, check your local laws. Rules for trapping and moving wild animals are different in different places. Some places may not let you move them far away. Some might require a permit. Know the rules first.

Types of Traps

Live traps are the most common type used for armadillos. These traps catch the animal without hurting it.

• Live Cage Trap: This is a metal cage with a door that closes when the animal goes inside.
  • Size: The trap needs to be big enough for an armadillo. A trap about 10 inches wide, 12 inches high, and 30-36 inches long is usually a good size.
  • Placement: Put the trap near the armadillo’s burrow entrance or along a path it uses (like near a fence or building). Armadillos tend to walk along edges.
  • Setting: Make sure the trap is stable. The ground should be level.
  • Baiting: What is the best bait? This is tricky because armadillos eat bugs. You can’t easily bait with live grubs.
    • Common Baits: Some people try rotten fruit, milk, or canned cat food. The smell might get their attention.
    • Using Digging:* A better way is to use the armadillo’s digging nature. Make a small hole (like the ones they dig) inside the back of the trap. This spot looks like a place to find food. This often works better than food bait.
    • Funneling: You can use pieces of wood or fencing to make a path leading right into the trap entrance. Place the trap near a burrow or along a fence line and set up “wings” to guide the armadillo in.

Setting the Trap

• Put the trap in a spot the armadillo uses often.
• Hide the trap a little with leaves or grass. Make it look natural.
• Set the trigger carefully.
• Check the trap often! At least twice a day (morning and evening). You don’t want an animal stuck in a trap for a long time. This is not kind and can stress or hurt the animal.

After Catching an Armadillo

This is where local rules are very important.

• Relocation: If allowed, move the armadillo several miles away. Find a natural area where it won’t bother people. Release it away from roads. Wear thick gloves when handling the trap. Armadillos can carry diseases.
• Other Options: In some places, you might have to call animal control or a wildlife expert. They might handle the animal differently based on local rules. Do not try to keep it as a pet. Do not harm it unless local laws specifically allow it, and even then, humane methods are best.

Trapping requires care and following rules. It can be an effective way to deal with one or two armadillos.

Dealing with Burrows

Finding and removing armadillo burrows is part of the process. This is armadillo burrow removal. A burrow is their home. If you get rid of the armadillo but leave the burrow, another animal might move in, or the armadillo might come back.

Finding the Burrow

Burrows are often near things:

• Under sheds, decks, or porches.
• Next to building foundations.
• Under large rocks or thick bushes.
• Along fence lines.
• In wooded areas near the yard.

Look for holes about 6-8 inches wide and fairly round. The entrance might have loose dirt kicked out.

Making Sure It’s Empty

You need to be sure the armadillo is not inside the burrow before you close it up.

• Observation: Watch the burrow entrance. Do you see activity? Armadillos are often out at night.
• Blocking Test: Lightly fill the entrance with loose dirt or leaves. Check it the next day. If the dirt or leaves are pushed out, something is still using it. If it stays untouched for two days, it’s likely empty.
• Smoke Bombs (Use with Caution): Some people use special “smoke bombs” meant for animal burrows. These push smoke into the tunnel. The idea is to make the animal leave. Be very careful using these. They can be a fire risk. They should not be used under buildings. They might also not work well in complex burrow systems. This is often not the best first method and should be used with extreme care, if at all, following all product instructions and local laws.

Closing the Burrow

Once you are sure the burrow is empty:

• Fill the Hole: Use rocks, gravel, or dirt to fill the tunnel.
• Make it Strong: It’s best to use something the armadillo can’t easily dig back through. Mixing gravel with dirt helps. You can also push wire mesh or concrete rubble into the opening before filling with dirt.
• Final Covering: Cover the filled hole with soil and plant grass or place a heavy paver over it.

Proper armadillo burrow removal prevents the animal from coming back to its home. It also stops other animals from using the old burrow.

Getting Help from Experts

Dealing with armadillos can be hard work. If you have many armadillos, a big burrow problem, or just don’t want to handle it yourself, you can hire help. This is where you hire armadillo removal service.

What Professionals Do

Professional wildlife control armadillo services have experience with these animals.

• Assessment: They can figure out how many armadillos you have and where they are living and getting food.
• Safe Trapping: They know the best armadillo trap methods and follow all laws for trapping and moving animals. They can place traps in the most effective spots.
• Burrow Management: They can safely deal with burrows, even those in tricky spots under buildings.
• Prevention Advice: They can give you specific tips for your property to prevent armadillos in yard areas in the future.
• Humane Methods: Reputable services use humane methods for trapping and handling the animals.

Choosing a Service

Look for a wildlife control armadillo service that is:

• Licensed and Insured: This protects you.
• Experienced: Ask how long they have been doing this and if they have experience with armadillos.
• Humane: Ask about their methods for catching and dealing with the animals.
• Local: A local service will know the armadillo behavior in your area and the local laws.
• Provides a Plan: They should tell you exactly what they plan to do and how much it will cost.

Hiring a professional can save you time and effort. It can also be safer and more effective, especially for bad problems. They are experts in armadillo damage control.

Rules and Caring for Wildlife

When dealing with wild animals, it’s important to know the rules and be kind.

Local Wildlife Laws

Animal rules are different everywhere.

• Check with Local Authorities: Contact your city, county, or state wildlife agency. They can tell you the rules for trapping, moving, or dealing with armadillos.
• Know Protected Species: Make sure you know if the armadillo is a protected animal in your area. In most places, it is not, but it’s good to check.
• Rules on Harming Animals: It is often against the law to hurt or kill wildlife unless it’s causing damage and specific rules are followed. Humane methods are usually required.

Follow the laws. This keeps you out of trouble and is better for the animals.

Be Kind to Animals

Even though armadillos cause damage, they are just looking for food and shelter.

• Humane Trapping: If you trap, use live traps and check them often. Release the animal quickly if allowed.
• Avoid Harm: Don’t use methods that will hurt the animal badly.
• Focus on Prevention: The best way is to stop them from coming in the first place. This avoids needing to trap or remove them.

Wildlife control armadillo efforts should always consider the well-being of the animal within the needs of protecting your property.

Long-Term Strategies

Getting rid of an armadillo now is good. But preventing them from coming back is better.

Keep Up Prevention

• Maintain Fences: Check your fences often. Fix any new holes or places where they can dig under.
• Control Food: Keep managing your lawn for grubs if needed. Keep the yard clean of food scraps.
• Secure Structures: Check under decks and sheds. Make sure barriers are still in place.

Keeping up these steps makes your yard less attractive over time.

Change Landscaping

Think about how your yard looks.

• Reduce Hiding Spots: Limit thick ground cover or dense bushes right next to your house or other buildings.
• Consider Materials: Using gravel or rocks in areas where they might dig burrows can help. Armadillos prefer digging in soft soil.

Making your yard less easy to dig in can help prevent armadillos in yard spaces.

Bringing It All Together

Dealing with armadillos takes a few steps. First, confirm the signs of armadillo infestation, like finding armadillo digging holes and other signs of armadillo damage control being needed. Find out what do armadillos eat and why they are in your yard. Then, you can take action.

You can try preventing them with fences and by removing food and shelter. You can use natural armadillo repellent, but know it might not always work. Trapping with the best armadillo trap is an option, but know the local rules. You also need to handle armadillo burrow removal carefully.

If the problem is too big, or you need expert help, you can hire armadillo removal service or a wildlife control armadillo expert. Always follow local laws and try to be kind to the animals.

By using these methods, you can protect your yard from armadillo damage. Keep watching your yard and keep up prevention efforts to stop them from coming back.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Are armadillos dangerous?

A: Armadillos are generally not aggressive. They usually run away if they see you. However, they can carry diseases like leprosy (though this is rare and hard to get). It’s best not to touch them and to be careful around their burrows and areas they’ve dug.

Q: Can armadillos climb?

A: They are not good climbers. They can climb low things like a few steps or rough walls a short way. But a fence that is a few feet high is usually a good barrier if it is also buried.

Q: Will armadillos hurt my pets?

A: Armadillos are not known to attack pets. Your dog might try to chase an armadillo. The armadillo’s main defense is to run or jump straight up (which can be surprising). The main risk is that armadillos can carry diseases, or a pet could get hurt digging after one or collapsing a burrow.

Q: What time of day are armadillos most active?

A: Armadillos are most active at night or during the early morning and late evening. They often rest in their burrows during the hot part of the day.

Q: Will mothballs repel armadillos?

A: Mothballs are often suggested as a repellent for many animals. However, they are generally not effective for armadillos. Also, mothballs contain chemicals that can be harmful to pets, children, and the environment. It’s better to use safer, more proven methods.

Q: How far do armadillos travel?

A: An armadillo usually stays within a home range of about 10 to 40 acres. They may travel a mile or so during their night time search for food. If you trap and move one, you need to take it several miles away to reduce the chance of it coming back.

Q: My armadillo burrow is under my house. What should I do?

A: Burrows under structures are risky. They can damage foundations. This is often a situation where it’s best to hire armadillo removal service. They have the tools and knowledge to safely remove the animal and secure the area without causing more damage to your house.

Q: How long does it take to get rid of armadillos?

A: It depends on the situation. Trapping might catch an armadillo in a night or two. But if more are in the area, or if you don’t fix what attracted them (food/shelter), others might come. Long-term prevention is key and takes ongoing effort.

Q: Can I scare armadillos away?

A: Loud noises, bright lights, or chasing them might scare an armadillo away for a moment. But it won’t stop them from coming back if your yard has food and shelter they want. These methods are not effective for long-term control.

Q: Do armadillos hibernate?

A: No, armadillos do not hibernate. They are active year-round, although they might be less active during very cold or very hot weather. They might stay in their burrows more during bad weather.