You would think that a well-kept lawn would mean fewer pests, but the moist soil makes a welcoming invitation for these hungry critters.Īnother reason you don’t want armadillos around: Armadillos are the only animal other than humans capable of carrying the bacteria that causes leprosy. Its primary food sources are earthworms, scorpions, spiders, and other invertebrates.Ī single armadillo can dig dozens of holes in your yard and prefers the most maintained lawns. This pest, common across the Southeast and considered an invasive species in Florida, loves digging holes in yards for food. Armadillos’ sharp claws will even cause structural damage by burrowing tunnels under buildings and driveways. The nine-banded armadillo causes considerable damage to lawns, flower beds, and vegetable gardens.
Armadillo holes series#
Next time I will complete this armadillo series with eradication ideas.How can you get rid of armadillos in your yard? Ways you get rid of armadillos include restricting their food supply, removing their hiding places, fencing, and live trapping and baiting.ĭon’t let an armadillo’s small size, big ears, and cute snout fool you. It seems that the only legal course involves recipes and other cooking details. Keeping them as pets is also illegal in some states. The next installment of this armadillo blog will be published next week…stay tuned for “To Shoot or not to Shoot.” Shooting armadillos will run you afoul of the law in some states, as will relocation in others. I have no more information regarding the outcome, and the man was not charged.
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She was taken to the local emergency room, treated and released. The bullet then entered the back of a large recliner where the man’s mother-in-law was sitting. The man shot the animal, but the angle of the shot made the bullet ricochet from the armadillo’s hard shell across the road and into a house-trailer. 38 Special pistol to shoot an armadillo crossing a road to his yard. I did encounter a story (verified by local law enforcement officials) where a man used his. In researching for these armadillo blogs, I encountered only one person who said that they had eaten armadillo, and he liked it. There is no daily possession or season limit on them. The authors also say that armadillo is edible if properly prepared. In most places, using artificial light to aid in the shooting of armadillos at night is also illegal. Hostetler and Schaefer recommend either a shotgun with No.4 to BB-sized shot or using a small caliber rifle. Shooting is another method frequently used to control armadillos. However, relocating the animal is not legal in some states (Texas and Florida), and moving the animal could help in the spread of disease. Once the armadillo is captured, it can be relocated to an area away from where it was caught. The use of baits in the trap doesn’t seem to increase the effectiveness of trapping. Many people use “wings” of lumber directing the animal into the trap opening. Armadillos will bump into an obstacle and them walk along the line of the obstacle until they get around it. These traps are usually set along building parameters or other straight-line obstacles. Seemingly, the most popular method in Northwest Arkansas involves trapping armadillos in large, metal cage live-traps available from feed stores, hardware outlets, and many online sources. There are several useful live-trapping methods. You must also run the fence at least 18 inches underground to prevent them digging under. While armadillos can climb, creating a barrier of a 24-inch fence set at a 40-degree angle will keep them out. Armadillos eat large amounts of earthworms and insect larvae and a moist fertilized lawn is perfect habitat for insects and invertebrates. Reducing watering and fertilizing of your lawn will lessen armadillo damage. Methods of control, according to University of Florida publication, The Nine-Banded Armadillo, by Joseph M. Of more consequence is the financial cost of maintaining smooth lawn surfaces on golf courses and other recreational areas.Īrmadillos favor soft, easy to dig in, fertilized soil - exactly the type of prepared soil we use to grow vegetables and flowers, and grasses designed for humans’ recreational purposes and for aesthetic value.
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They also can weaken levees along rivers and streams by digging long tunnels used for escape routes and to provide nests.ĭamage to lawns, golf courses, and pastures can result in broken lawn maintenance equipment, and injury to humans and domestic animals may occur when stepping into an armadillo hole. Most problems occur when armadillos dig under or along foundations, driveways and other structures. They are just digging a place to call home or are hungry and searching for the wide range of invertebrates they consume. Armadillos don’t intend to destroy sidewalks, houses, and other man-made structures.