Are armadillos digging holes in your yard? Are they causing armadillo damage yard wide? Yes, armadillos can make a mess of your nice lawn. They dig small holes everywhere. These holes look like little cones or cups dug into the soil. This armadillo damage yard makes the grass look bad. It can even hurt your plants. Getting rid of armadillos can stop this digging. There are ways to control them. Let’s look at how to do this. We will talk about armadillo control methods.
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Seeing the Signs of Armadillos
How do you know if an armadillo is visiting your yard? You will see the signs. The most common sign is small holes. These holes are about 1 to 3 inches wide. They are only a few inches deep. They dig these holes when looking for food. You might see many of these holes appear overnight. This is a clear sign of armadillo digging holes.
Sometimes you might see torn-up grass or mulch. This looks like someone scraped the surface. Armadillos do this too. They push their noses into the ground. They root around for insects. This also causes armadillo damage yard surfaces.
You might even see the armadillo itself. They are most active at night. You might spot one at dawn or dusk. They walk around with their noses to the ground. They look like small tanks in hard shell armor. Identifying armadillo signs early helps you act fast.
Other signs might include burrows. Armadillos live in burrows. These are tunnels they dig underground. A burrow opening is usually about 7 to 8 inches wide. You might find these under porches, sheds, or thick bushes. Finding a burrow means an armadillo is living close by.
Why Armadillos Dig in Your Yard
Why do armadillos want to dig in your yard? It’s simple. They are looking for food. Armadillos eat mostly insects and other small things in the soil. They love to eat grubs, beetles, ants, termites, and worms. Your lawn is a giant buffet for them. It is full of tasty bugs.
They use their strong front claws to dig. Their long snout helps them sniff out food underground. When they find something good, they dig fast. This causes all the holes. They dig because they are hungry. To stop armadillos from digging, you need to make your yard less appealing for food. This involves armadillo food source removal.
Your yard might have a lot of food if:
* The soil is soft and easy to dig.
* There are many grubs and insects under the grass.
* Your yard is watered often, which brings insects closer to the surface.
* You have lots of mulch or leaf piles where insects hide.
Knowing why they dig helps you figure out how to stop them. You need to make your yard a less good place for them to eat.
Ways to Keep Armadillos Away
Stopping armadillos from damaging your yard needs a plan. There are many armadillo control methods. Some methods try to scare them away. Some try to make the yard less tasty. Others try to catch them. Using a mix of methods often works best. This is part of armadillo pest control.
Let’s look at different ways to manage armadillos. We can group them into a few main types:
* Making the yard less attractive (habitat changes).
* Using things armadillos don’t like (repellents).
* Blocking them out (exclusion).
* Catching and moving them (trapping).
* Getting professional help.
Each method has good points and bad points. What works for one yard might not work for another.
Making Your Yard Less Appealing (Habitat Changes)
Armadillos come to your yard for food. Taking away their food source is a good step. This is a key part of armadillo food source removal.
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Control Grubs and Insects: Armadillos love grubs. Grubs are baby beetles that live in the soil. If you have many grubs, armadillos will come to eat them. You can use treatments to kill grubs. There are chemical and natural options.
- Chemical Grub Control: You can buy products at garden stores. Read the labels carefully. Apply them at the right time of year. This is usually in late spring or early summer.
- Natural Grub Control: Milky spore is a natural option. It is a disease that only affects grubs. Nematodes are tiny worms that attack grubs. These are natural ways to reduce grubs.
- Important: Reducing the grub population removes a major food source. This helps stop armadillos from digging.
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Change Watering Habits: Watered lawns are great for insects. They also make the soil soft. This makes digging easy for armadillos. Water your lawn less often if possible. Let the soil dry out more between watering. This makes it less welcoming for bugs and harder to dig.
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Remove Hiding Spots: Armadillos like places to hide. They like thick bushes, piles of leaves, and brush. Clean up your yard. Remove brush piles. Trim bushes away from the ground. Make it harder for them to feel safe.
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Secure Trash Cans: Armadillos are mostly insect eaters, but they might look for food in trash cans too. Keep your trash cans sealed tightly. Don’t leave pet food bowls outside overnight.
By making your yard less appealing for food and shelter, you reduce the reason for armadillos to visit. This is a natural way to get rid of armadillos over time.
Using Smells They Don’t Like (Repellents)
Can you just spray something to make them leave? Maybe. There are many ideas for armadillo repellent homemade options. Also, there are products you can buy.
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Homemade Repellents: Some people suggest using smells that armadillos don’t like.
- Garlic and Pepper Spray: Mix chopped garlic or hot peppers with water. Let it sit, then strain the liquid. Put it in a spray bottle. Spray areas where they dig.
- Vinegar Soaked Rags: Soak rags in white vinegar. Place them near the holes they dig.
- Ammonia: Some people suggest putting ammonia near burrow entrances. Be very careful with ammonia. It is strong and can hurt plants and other animals.
- Mothballs: This is another common suggestion. However, mothballs are toxic. They can harm children, pets, and other wildlife. Many experts do not recommend using mothballs.
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Commercial Repellents: Stores sell products that claim to repel armadillos. These often contain castor oil. The idea is that it makes the ground taste bad or smell bad to them. You mix it with water and spray it on your lawn.
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Do Repellents Work? Opinions vary. Homemade and commercial repellents might work a little bit, for a short time. But armadillos are driven by hunger. If there is a lot of food in your yard, they might ignore the bad smell or taste. They are not a guaranteed fix. They are often seen as temporary solutions or part of a larger plan. They can be tried as natural ways to get rid of armadillos, but don’t rely only on them.
Building a Barrier (Exclusion)
The most certain way to keep armadillos out is to build a fence. This is called exclusion.
- Fence Type: A regular garden fence will not work. Armadillos are good diggers. They can climb a little, but they mostly go under things.
- Fence Depth: A good armadillo fence needs to go into the ground. It should be at least 12 to 18 inches deep.
- Fence Height: The fence should also be about 2-3 feet tall above the ground.
- Fence Material: Strong wire mesh or solid fencing material works best. Make sure there are no gaps.
- Putting it Up: Install the fence around the area you want to protect. This might be your whole yard or just a garden bed. Bend the bottom 6 inches of the fence outward into an ‘L’ shape underground. This makes it harder for them to dig right at the fence line.
Building a fence is more work and costs more money upfront. But it can be very effective at stopping them from entering your yard at all. This helps stop armadillos from digging in the protected area. It’s a serious step in armadillo control methods.
Catching and Moving Them (Trapping)
If armadillos are already in your yard and causing a lot of damage, trapping might be an option. Trapping armadillos requires care and understanding.
- Type of Trap: You need a live trap. These are cage traps that catch the animal without hurting it. A trap made for raccoons or opossums usually works for armadillos. It should be at least 10x12x32 inches in size.
- Where to Put the Trap: Place the trap near the armadillo’s burrow entrance or along paths they use. Look for areas with fresh digging. Armadillos tend to follow the same routes. You can make a “guide fence” with boards or mesh to funnel the armadillo towards the trap entrance.
- Bait: What bait works for armadillos? This can be tricky. They eat live insects. You can try using overripe fruit, like cantaloupe, which attracts insects. Some people use earthworms or grubs in a container that the armadillo can smell. A common method is simply setting the trap without bait along a path or near a burrow entrance, using the guide fences to direct them in.
- Setting the Trap: Follow the trap’s instructions. Make sure it is stable and won’t tip over easily. Camouflage the trap slightly with leaves or grass if you like, but make sure the entrance is clear.
- Checking the Trap: Check the trap often. At least once in the morning and once in the evening. Animals caught in traps get stressed. They can get hurt or suffer from heat or cold. Checking often is important for humane trapping.
- What to Do After Catching: This is where it gets complicated. Relocating wildlife is not allowed everywhere. It can be illegal in some states or cities. It can also spread diseases or cause the animal to suffer. An armadillo moved far from its home might not survive. It is often better to prevent them from coming in the first place or to call a professional.
- Professional Help: Many pest control companies offer armadillo removal services. This is part of professional armadillo pest control. They know the laws and have experience trapping and handling wildlife. This is often the best option if trapping is necessary. They can also help with other armadillo control methods.
Trapping armadillos can work but requires careful thought and following local rules.
Other Ideas (Often Less Effective)
People try many things to get rid of pests. Some methods for armadillos are less proven or just don’t work well.
- Noise Makers: Loud noises might scare an armadillo away for a moment. But they get used to it quickly. Loud radios or other noise devices are not a long-term solution. They can also bother your neighbors.
- Bright Lights: Armadillos are most active at night. Some people use bright lights in the yard. This might make them feel less safe. But like noise, they can get used to lights. They are not a reliable way to stop armadillos from digging.
- Flooding Burrows: Some sources suggest flooding an armadillo burrow to make it leave. This can be dangerous. It could collapse the burrow and trap the animal. It could also damage your yard or even your home’s foundation if the burrow is close by. It is not a recommended method.
- Physical Removal: Trying to catch an armadillo yourself without a trap is hard and not advised. They can move quickly. They might scratch or bite if cornered. They can also carry diseases. Leave trapping to professionals if you go this route.
Putting It All Together: A Multi-Step Plan
The best way to stop armadillo damage yard problems is usually to use a few different methods. Here is a possible plan:
- Confirm the Problem: Make sure it’s armadillos. Look for the specific armadillo digging holes and signs. Do this by Identifying armadillo signs.
- Make the Yard Less Appealing: Start with armadillo food source removal. Treat for grubs if needed. Reduce watering. Clean up yard debris. This helps stop armadillos from digging by making the yard less attractive.
- Try Repellents (Optional First Step): You can try armadillo repellent homemade or store-bought options. Spray affected areas. See if it helps, but don’t expect miracles.
- Build Barriers: If certain areas are often hit, consider fencing them off. Remember the fence needs to go deep underground.
- Consider Trapping (If Necessary): If damage continues and is bad, you might think about trapping armadillos. Research local laws first. Decide if you will do it yourself or call armadillo pest control professionals.
- Keep Up Good Practices: Even after they are gone, keep your yard less appealing. Continue grub control if needed. Keep the yard clean. This prevents new armadillos from moving in.
This combines different armadillo control methods for a stronger defense.
Comparing Armadillo Control Methods
Here is a quick look at the different armadillo control methods:
| Method | How It Works | Pros | Cons | Effectiveness in Stopping Digging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Source Removal | Eliminates armadillo food (grubs/bugs) | Addresses root cause, helps lawn health | Takes time, may need repeated effort | High (Reduces reason to dig) |
| Homemade Repellents | Uses bad smells/tastes | Cheap, easy to try, natural ways to start | Often temporary, may not work | Low to Moderate (Temporary) |
| Commercial Repellents | Uses specific formulas (e.g., castor oil) | Easy to buy and apply | Can be costly, effectiveness varies, not a guarantee | Low to Moderate (Temporary) |
| Exclusion (Fencing) | Blocks physical entry | Very effective if done right | Can be costly and labor-intensive, affects yard look | High (Prevents access) |
| Trapping Armadillos | Catches the animal | Removes the specific problem animal | Requires work, knowledge of traps/bait, legal/ethical issues, potential for reinvasion | High (Removes the animal) |
| Professional Pest Control | Experts handle removal/control plans | Experienced, know laws, saves you time | Costs money | High (Expert implementation) |
This table helps see which method might fit your situation best. Remember that stopping armadillos from digging is the main goal. The methods that take away their food or block them physically are often the most effective long term.
Important Things to Remember
- Be Patient: Getting rid of armadillos can take time. Don’t expect results overnight.
- Be Persistent: You might need to try different methods or repeat them.
- Check Local Laws: Before trapping or relocating any animal, know the rules in your area. Some places have strict laws about wildlife.
- Safety First: If you use any sprays or products, follow label directions. Be careful around wildlife. Armadillos can carry diseases, though it’s rare to catch something just from them being in your yard.
Dealing with armadillos is often about making your yard a less nice place for them to live and eat. By reducing their food and making it hard for them to dig or hide, you can protect your lawn from armadillo damage yard wide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are answers to some common questions about armadillos and your yard:
Q: Are armadillos dangerous?
A: Generally, no. They are shy animals. They usually run away if they see you. They might scratch or bite if cornered, like any wild animal. It’s best to watch them from a distance.
Q: Do armadillos carry diseases?
A: Armadillos can carry leprosy, but the risk to humans is very low. Most people who get leprosy in the US have not been in contact with armadillos. It is always wise to be careful with any wild animal. Don’t touch them and wash your hands if you’ve been working in areas where they dig.
Q: What time of day are armadillos active?
A: Armadillos are mostly nocturnal. This means they are active at night. You are most likely to see them at dawn or dusk. They might come out in the day if the weather is cool or cloudy.
Q: How deep do armadillos dig their burrows?
A: Armadillo burrows can go quite deep, sometimes up to 20 feet long. They can be 2 to 5 feet underground. This is why finding and dealing with burrows near your home can be tricky.
Q: Can my dog or cat catch diseases from armadillos?
A: The risk is low. Pets might chase or interact with armadillos. The main concern is injury from a fight or, very rarely, exposure to leprosy. Keep pets away from armadillos and their burrows.
Q: Will armadillos hurt my plants?
A: They don’t usually eat plants. Their digging is the problem. The holes they make can damage plant roots and mess up garden beds.
Q: If I get rid of one armadillo, will another one come?
A: Maybe. If your yard is a good source of food (lots of grubs) and easy to dig, another armadillo might move in later. This is why making your yard less appealing in the long run is important.
Getting rid of armadillos takes effort. But by using the right armadillo control methods, like taking away their food and making your yard less friendly, you can protect your lawn and stop the armadillo damage yard problems. Good luck!