First seen in Texas in the 1850’s, the Armadillo became its small state animal in 1995. About 100 years after they were found in Texas, they began migrating to Alabama or beyond. Now, they can be seen all over the United States.
Armadillos are nocturnal, which means they can mostly be found foraging for bugs, worms and grubs at night. They are excellent diggers, which is why they are such a nuisance for people with yards and gardens.
Since armadillos are bigger pests than most other ones, they are generally easier to keep out of your yard. This can be achieved simply by erecting a fence that has no spaces that are big enough for the critter to come through. The fence should also be buried at least one foot underground so that armadillos and other pests can’t dig their way under it. This seems the most practical way to stop these critters from entering your yard but, if you don’t like the idea of having a fence, there are other options too.
Armadillos have a great sense of smell, in fact, a large portion of their brain is dedicated to smell. Therefore, to keep armadillos from entering your yard, you simply need to make your yard smell unattractive to them. They do not like smells that sting the eyes: vinegar, ammonia, pine cleaner, etc. Try using these smells to keep them out of your yard.
When it comes to your garden, it’s important to keep it free and clear of small insects that armadillos can be coming into your yard for. If there are no insects for armadillos to feed on, then they will not be attracted to your yard. To do this, you might choose a repellent. This could be a highly effective and potent insect killer or it could be something as simple as moth balls.
If you have a rather pesky armadillo who thinks your home is their home and the odors or even the fence does not seem to be effective, you should call pest control. Some people might opt to do this first, but usually armadillos are one of the easiest pests to get out of your yard because they are not territorial. However, it is not advised that you try to catch and remove an armadillo yourself. If you insist on ridding your yard of an armadillo anyways, it’s best to use a bait and cage method.
To trap an armadillo, you’ll need a good cage that is strong enough to hold an animal that not only has a hard outer shell but can jump in the air too. The cage should be 12”x 10”x 30”. You might find that it is more efficient to set up more than one cage at a time. This just increases the chances of you catching the armadillo. For the bait portion of the bait and cage method, you won’t be using a particular type of insect to lure the armadillo in. Instead, this type of bait requires you to think about the lay out of yard. Since armadillos are nocturnal, they use their smell to find their way around. This means they follow paths such as the path of a fence or a wall. So therefore, you’d want to put the cage within that path.
If you’ve noticed some armadillos around your home and would like to have them removed Wild Animal Pest and Removal is a great place to call: 1-844-WILDOUT. Not only will they rid your property of any and all wildlife, they will also help to repair any damage and set-up regular visits to prevent any critters from returning. Call or send us a message using our Contact Us page. Visit our FAQ page for answers to frequently asked wildlife removal questions. More on How to Get Rid of Armadillos.