Get Rid of Your Armadillo Problem Fast!
Armadillo Removal and Armadillo Trapping is the best method of removing these nuisance pests from your property. Trapping is the fastest, most effective method of preventing an armadillo from destroying your lawn. It is often a tricky process because they are not attracted to food on the ground or a baited trap. These animals will not freely go into a cage trap in search of food. Armadillos primarily dig for their food, hence why they will not enter a baited cage trap freely. This is why trapping an armadillo should be handled by a professional Wildlife Control professional of Nuisance Wildlife Rangers. We are experts at Armadillo Trapping and have successfully provided these services throughout South Florida, Tampa, Fort Myers and Orlando areas.
Remove Armadillo Food Sources
The first armadillo removal method that we recommend goes right to the source. We’re talking about removing the things that are actually attracting the animal to your property in the first place. It’s generally easy and cheap to do, but it’s not always a foolproof solution.
In general, armadillos love to eat bugs, grubs, and worms as well as small plants. These are all things that are found in the ground. For this reason, it’s impossible to completely remove all an armadillo’s food sources from your yard. We also don’t recommend purging your yard of every single insect – this can cause other unforeseen problems.
What we do recommend is simply cleaning up your property. It pays to rake up any fallen leaves, berries, or other tasty plant parts. Additionally, removing brush and woodpiles can also effectively deter an armadillo. These animals like to make their burrows in areas with lots of cover. Clearing your yard as much as possible will make it less attractive to armadillos.
Use High-Quality Fencing
Fencing in your yard or garden can have a big impact. It’s effective at preventing armadillos and other nuisance critters from raiding your veggie plot or tearing up your flower beds. The main drawback to these fencing methods is cost.
There are two types of fencing that we recommend at Nuisance Wildlife Rangers. The first is your typical in-ground chain link fencing. However, the fencing must be installed properly. To effectively deter armadillos, we suggest installing the fence so it goes at least 12-18 inches into the ground. If you can slant the buried portion outwards at about a 40-degree angle, that will be even better.
We also recommend electric fencing, but only to clients with no small children or pets. A single electric fence line that’s low to the ground (less than 6 inches high) can work wonders against armadillos.
Armadillo Bait and Live Trapping
If prevention fails, then trapping is your best method for armadillo removal. At Nuisance Wildlife Rangers, we are armadillo trapping experts. We use sturdy steel cage traps to effectively and humanely trap and remove these animals.
The key to successful armadillo trapping is location. Armadillos need to get pretty close in order to recognize something as a food source, so you need to set your trap close to where the animal will be. The best way to do this is to look for signs of armadillo damage like holes or burrows. You should place your trap as close to these as possible.
We recommend using natural baits like worms and crickets to attract armadillos. Keep in mind that because these animals are nocturnal, you’ll have the best odds of success if you set the trap at dusk then check it in the morning.
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How to Remove Armadillos Under Shed
No one ever wants to hear the mention of Armadillos within their property, especially their sheds. These creatures are annoying and expert diggers. Since most of their food (grubs and worms) are found underground, they do not have issues with ruining your beautiful and well-tendered lawns.
Their pig-like snouts and sharp claws allow them to attack concrete foundations or walls, which can cause all sorts of structural damage. If you find a heap of grasses, shrubs, dirt around your shed, deck, or porch, know that armadillos are around.
Removing Armadillos
There are many ways to remove Armadillos in your house, excluding poisons and other toxic substances. Some of these humane but effective methods include;
- One-way Wire mesh doors
If you look deep enough, there is a particular opening or crack around the shed where the Armadillo enters from. Once you locate the hole, use a strong wire mesh (installed strongly to the floor) to block it. The wire mesh should have a small gate that allows the Armadillo to get out of the shed but cannot return.
- Cage trapping the Armadillo
You can capture the Armadillo live by installing traps around your shed or porch. It is more effective if you install the trap close to the entry hole. If possible, create a bit of funnel from the entry hole to the cage entrance.
The best way to bait an armadillo cage is to use worms, grubs, larvae, or other tiny insects which the Armadillo finds irresistible.
- Using repellents
You can choose between getting a repellent from professional stores or making yours. Spraying armadillo repellents around the shed will irritate it out of them. However, this may not be a permanent and one-time solution to your Armadillo problem.
Some DIY Armadillo repellents are;
- Cayenne pepper,
- Water,
- Mothballs
Commercial armadillo repellents are also available in stores, usually liquid or granular. If you spray these repellents around your property, the soil covering the shed tastes terrible. And the taste of their prey underground will be repulsive to them.
The repellents are more effective if they have a stronger smell. The Armadillo will have no choice but to escape such extended “punishments.”
- Electronic Armadillo repellents
There are other mechanical means to irritate Armadillos out of your property. Using an electronic deterrent (sprinkler system) will spook them out of your property. However, this device may not be a permanent solution, as we cannot tell where the Armadillo will attack next.
- Calling Professional services
Most people call professional services like ours to deal with their Armadillo problems. These animals are small and can be stressful to deal with. After expelling Armadillos, the most important thing is to make sure they never return.
These creatures are also experts at hiding, making it difficult to discover them in the shed until it is too late. We use humane removal and control methods to deal with all the pest control-related requests.
Can I poison the Armadillos?
Although Armadillos are almost resistant to most repellents, it is still inhumane to go higher by feeding them poisons. Also, most local laws now outlaw Poison and other toxicants when dealing with pests or wildlife.
There is also the risk of injuring your pets or other livestock when you use Poison as a form of pest control.
Using Scent of predators
It is pretty ineffective to use the smell of predators to scare off Armadillos. And this is not to say that they don’t have serious predators. However, the bone-like shell on their back shields (Carapace) them from any surprise or attack by a predator.
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How to Trap An Armadillo
Armadillos are barrel-shaped animals best known for their natural armor. They rely on their armor for defense. Coupled with their tiny mouths with little peg teeth, they are docile and harmless to humans.
However, they can wreak havoc on properties. First off, they live in burrows, so they dig tunnels around the yard, thereby disfiguring the landscape. Also, when digging for earthworms, grubs, and insects, armadillos in the yard will tear out the vegetation.
So what’s the best way to deal with an armadillo infestation? As it turns out, trapping is very effective for capturing armadillos. But only if you know how to go about it. Our professionals at Nuisance Wildlife Rangers have honed the process of trapping armadillos. And in this post, we share this process with you.
Step 1: Get a large live trap.
The average length of an armadillo is about 75 cm, and the nine-banded species generally weigh up to 7 kg. Hence, they are pretty big creatures. That’s why you need a large or extra-large live trap – about 32-42 inches in length and 12 inches high. You can either use a 1-door or 2-door trap.
Step 2: Select appropriate trap placement.
This is arguably the most important part of the process. Why? You see, armadillos have poor eyesight, so they rely on specific travel paths to move to and from their burrows. Even with that, they still bump into objects and walls from time to time.
So, what does this mean for you? If you can identify the travel path of the armadillo, you can place the trap there. And voila! You have a good chance of catching it. Other viable positions include the burrow entryway, or along a wall or fence line close to the burrow entrance.
Step 3: Bait the trap?
This step is posed as a question because baiting a trap for armadillos is controversial. Here’s the thing: armadillos instinctively only eat the food they dig out. Hence, they are less likely to fall for a bait that’s above the ground surface. At Nuisance Wildlife Rangers, we believe baiting isn’t necessary.
However, some people claim that baiting works. If you want to give it a try, then appropriate bait to use include mealworms or earthworms. What’s more, ensure the bait is well positioned so the armadillo has to step on the trigger plate to access it.
Step 4: Set the trap
Now that you’ve got the trap size, trap placement, and bait (optional) figured out, it’s time to set the trap.
Nine-banded armadillos are nocturnal and spend their waking time burrowing or feeding. Hence, the best time to set the trap is in the evening, right before the animal comes out of its burrow to forage.
Note that during the winter, the weather is cooler, so you might sight the armadillo during the day. So, trapping might work during the daytime during this period.
Step 5: Monitor the trap
Many homeowners set traps and forget about them for extended periods. That’s very bad. A trapped armadillo will struggle to get out of the trap. And if it stays there for too long, it might injure itself in the process of trying to escape. To prevent any of that from happening, it’s important you check the trap regularly.
Step 6: Relocate the animal
After catching the armadillo, it’s time to relocate it. Before handling the trap, make sure you wear hand gloves. Although very unlikely, armadillos are carriers of leprosy, so avoiding direct contact is important – and that’s what the hand gloves are for.
If relocation is permitted in your district, take the cage to at least 5 miles away from the capture site and release it. Try releasing the animal near a stream or river.
Step 7: Prevent future infestation.
First off, you need to seal off the burrows dug by the armadillo with gravel to prevent other wildlife from residing there.
Then you need to remove attractants from your yard. And this all boils down to reducing the worm and insect population in your yard. To do that, avoid over-watering your lawn. Also, ensure you trim your lawn regularly. And you can always make use of insecticide to kill excess worms.
Damage That Armadillos Can Cause to Your Property
Although armadillos are cute critters, they’re certainly not the ideal guests to have on your property. Armadillos have extremely sharp claws that can seriously injure people who make them feel uncomfortable. Armadillos can also cause excessive yard, pool, or even plumbing damage because of their love for digging holes and looking for grubs to eat. Overall, armadillos are awful house and backyard guests due to the damage they can cause to your house, a loved one, or a pet.
Armadillos can be found throughout the South Eastern United States, primarily in the region between Texas and Florida. Armadillos have scaly skin and are well known for curling up into a ball and fleeing when they feel they’re in danger. Although usually armadillos will flea before they’ll fight, sometimes they will fight to defend themselves and their large claws can seriously injure someone. Armadillos also have as high as a 1 in 10 chance of carrying leprosy, depending on the area and local populations. Leprosy is a disease that only affects a handful of warm-blooded mammals: including humans. Leprosy primarily affects the skin, producing ulcers and skin damage which, if untreated, can cause disfigurement or even severe disability. Having an armadillo lurking in your yard can be disastrous for yourself, your houseguests, your pets, and even your home itself. Armadillos love burrowing and will burrow throughout your yard, creating holes all over. Armadillos burrow to look for worms, grubs, and other insects hidden within the ground. This burrowing may seem to be annoying at first but it’s much worse: it can cause significant structural damage to your home, plumbing, pool, or yard.
How Do I Get Rid of Armadillos?
Armadillos are tricky and potentially dangerous creatures, so it’s highly recommended that you call a wildlife specialist to help you deal with them. Armadillos don’t prefer a specific bait, so usually, a wildlife specialist will have to figure out where they access your backyard from. Once their entry and exit points have been assessed, the wildlife specialists will close off all alternative routes and set traps in the remaining pathways. Once the armadillos eventually reach the trap (usually a simple catch and release trap), it will simply trap the armadillo inside: ready for relocation to a more welcoming ecosystem.
After your initial armadillo invasion has been fixed, the work still isn’t over. Wildlife specialists will have to ensure that the insects in your yard don’t flourish and disincentivize any nearby armadillos who might be interested in making a home in your yard. Depending on the situation, our wildlife specialists are likely to leave the trap set up: just in case any other armadillos try to come into your yard for reasons outside our control. Although it is possible to take the necessary steps and precautions to trap an armadillo without a wildlife specialist, it’s clearly quite risky.
Is It Legal to Keep an Armadillo As a Pet?
Armadillos are one of the most unique creatures that can be found in many different locales. Their armored shell is one of the most interesting features about them and they have some very unique habits and behaviors they tend to follow. These things often lead people to wonder if an armadillo would be a fun animal to keep as a pet. There is one important question that should be asked, so continue reading to learn if it is legal to keep an armadillo as a pet.
Different Areas, Different Laws
One of the trickiest parts to examine when answering this question is whether or not the particular state or locale you are in allows you to keep an armadillo as a pet. Since armadillos are native in many states, it might seem like those states and areas would allow for legal armadillo domestication. This is not the case, as many areas in the United States require special permits or licensing in order to own an armadillo. If you are really interested in keeping an armadillo as a pet, it is important to contact your local and state officials to make sure that you are not violating any laws or statutes. It is also likely that these regulations could change from time to time, so it is important to stay current on laws regarding domesticated armadillo ownership. Even if it is legal in your area, there are some other considerations that you should be aware of.
Illness
As is the case with any animal, domesticated or not, there is always a potential for humans to be infected by a disease. While this chance is not that high for many pets, for wild animals that have been rescued, there is a much higher chance of disease transmission. Armadillos often carry parasitic worms that could infect humans and cause them harm. However, the most worrisome illness that armadillos spread to humans is usually thought to be leprosy. While the transmission chance is low, living with an armadillo would enhance your risk greatly. Leprosy is a very serious skin disease that can form lesions and eventually cause problems over your whole body. With the risk of leprosy, people are much less likely to consider keeping armadillos as pets.
Damage
In addition to the potential for illnesses, armadillos can really damage your yard. These critters cause most of the problems and damage that they do because of their digging. This digging can lead to uprooted plants in your garden and flower beds. It can also lead to ugly spots of overturned earth in your grass. There are two structurally-damaging problems caused by armadillos as well. When these critters dig below concrete or pavement, it can cause weakening, eventually leading to crumbling or a crack. This also happens when they dig below sheds or the foundation of your home. Unless you are planning on keeping an eye on your armadillo all of the time, it could easily cause these problems.
Other Considerations
Beyond the problems they can cause you, a domesticated armadillo also has some unique requirements that do not lend well to being a domesticated, indoor armadillo. One of the most important of these requirements is that armadillos are nocturnal animals that are going to be up all hours of the night. If you are planning on keeping an eye on them, this can be problematic. In addition, these critters like to dig outside and roam around, scavenging for food. Keeping them as a pet will not allow them to do the things that they love to do.
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