Can you keep armadillos out of your yard? Yes, you can deter armadillos with a combination of physical barriers, natural repellents, and by making your yard less attractive to them. This comprehensive guide will walk you through effective strategies for keeping these nine-banded visitors from digging up your lawn and garden.
Armadillos, with their distinctive bony armor, are often seen as fascinating creatures. However, when they decide your yard is the perfect spot for their nightly foraging, they can quickly turn into a nuisance. Their powerful claws are designed for digging, and they use them to unearth insects, grubs, and other invertebrates that make up their diet. This digging can lead to unsightly holes, damaged flower beds, and even weakened foundations. Fortunately, there are many ways to discourage them from making your property their personal buffet and burrowing ground.
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Why Are Armadillos In My Yard?
Armadillos are primarily attracted to yards that offer a plentiful food source and suitable conditions for burrowing. Grubs, earthworms, ants, termites, and other small invertebrates are a primary food source. If your lawn is lush and well-irrigated, it likely harbors a healthy population of these tasty treats.
Additionally, armadillos seek out soft, loose soil for creating their burrows. Areas with mulch, compost piles, or overgrown vegetation provide ideal conditions for them to dig and create their dens. They are also drawn to shelter, so woodpiles, dense shrubbery, and areas under sheds or decks can become attractive resting spots.
Natural Armadillo Control: Making Your Yard Less Appealing
The most effective approach to managing armadillos in your yard involves making it an undesirable place for them to be. This means removing their food sources and eliminating attractive shelter options. Natural methods are not only effective but also safer for your family, pets, and the environment.
Eliminating Food Sources
- Reduce Grubs and Insects: A healthy population of grubs and other soil-dwelling insects is a major draw for armadillos.
- Beneficial Nematodes: Introduce beneficial nematodes into your lawn. These microscopic worms are natural predators of various insect larvae, including grubs.
- Proper Lawn Care: Maintain a healthy lawn through proper watering, mowing, and fertilization. A dense, healthy turf is more resistant to grub infestations.
- Avoid Over-Watering: While some moisture is good, consistently soggy soil can encourage insect populations.
- Clean Up Food Scraps: If you have outdoor pets, don’t leave pet food out overnight. Armadillos will readily scavenge from pet bowls.
- Secure Compost Piles: Ensure your compost bins are sturdy and sealed. Armadillos can easily access unsecured compost piles, which are rich in insects and organic matter.
Removing Shelter and Attractive Habitats
- Clear Debris: Remove brush piles, leaf litter, and any other debris that can provide shelter for armadillos.
- Seal Entry Points: Check for and seal any openings under sheds, decks, porches, or other structures. Use sturdy materials like hardware cloth or concrete.
- Trim Dense Vegetation: Trim back overgrown bushes and ground cover, especially near the foundation of your home. This reduces hiding places.
- Manage Water Sources: While armadillos need water, they generally get it from their food. However, leaky faucets or standing water can be an attractant. Fix leaks and drain standing water.
Armadillo Deterrents: Discouraging Their Presence
Once you’ve made your yard less appealing, you can further deter armadillos with various deterrents. These methods aim to make the environment unpleasant for them, encouraging them to move elsewhere.
Repellents for Armadillos
Several natural substances can act as armadillo repellents. These work by creating an odor or taste that the armadillos find offensive.
Castor Oil Based Repellents
Castor oil is one of the most popular and effective natural armadillo repellents. It irritates their sensitive skin and nose.
- How to Use:
- Mix one part castor oil with one part liquid dish soap.
- Add one tablespoon of cayenne pepper.
- Dilute this mixture with two quarts of water.
- Spray liberally around areas where armadillos are active, including lawns, flower beds, and burrow entrances.
- Reapply after rain or heavy watering.
Other Natural Repellents
- Cayenne Pepper: The heat from cayenne pepper can be a strong irritant. Sprinkle it around affected areas. Be cautious as it can also irritate pets and humans.
- Garlic and Onion: The strong smell of garlic and onions can be off-putting to armadillos. You can plant garlic or onions around your garden beds, or create a spray by blending garlic cloves and onions with water and straining the liquid.
- Essential Oils: Certain essential oils, like peppermint, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil, can also deter armadillos due to their strong scents. Mix a few drops with water and spray around the perimeter of your yard.
Commercial Natural Repellents
There are also commercially available natural armadillo repellents that often contain castor oil, essential oils, or other natural ingredients. Always follow the product instructions carefully.
How to Stop Armadillos Digging
To stop armadillos digging, you need to make the soil less inviting or physically prevent access.
- Tilling the Soil: Regularly tilling your garden beds can disrupt existing burrows and make it harder for armadillos to dig new ones.
- Introducing Obstacles: Placing decorative rocks or other solid objects in commonly dug areas can also discourage them.
Armadillo Exclusion Methods: Building Barriers
Physical barriers are often the most reliable way to keep armadillos out of specific areas of your yard.
Fencing for Armadillos
Fencing is a highly effective method for armadillo exclusion. However, it needs to be installed correctly to be effective.
- Materials: Use sturdy materials like chicken wire, hardware cloth, or welded wire mesh. The mesh openings should be no larger than 1 inch to prevent smaller armadillos from passing through.
- Height: The fence should be at least 18-24 inches high. Armadillos are not strong climbers, so this height is usually sufficient.
- Depth: This is crucial. Armadillos are excellent diggers. To prevent them from burrowing under the fence, you must bury the bottom edge of the fence at least 6-12 inches into the ground.
- Inward Bend: An additional protective measure is to bend the bottom 6 inches of the fence outward at a 90-degree angle and bury it. This creates an “L” shape underground, making it much harder for them to dig under.
Types of Fencing to Consider:
- Hardware Cloth: This is a strong, woven wire mesh that is ideal for armadillo fencing due to its small mesh size and durability.
- Welded Wire Mesh: Similar to hardware cloth, but with welded intersections, offering good strength.
- Chicken Wire: While less durable, it can be a more budget-friendly option. Ensure the mesh is small enough.
Armadillo Proofing Yard Features
Beyond fences, you can proof specific areas of your yard.
- Under Decks and Sheds: Seal any openings with sturdy materials like concrete or hardware cloth, buried at least 6 inches deep.
- Flower Beds: Consider using buried wire mesh around valuable flower beds, especially if they are a favorite digging spot.
Humane Armadillo Removal
If armadillos have already taken up residence, humane removal might be necessary. This typically involves trapping and relocating them.
Best Armadillo Traps
Live traps are the most humane way to capture armadillos.
- Types of Traps:
- Cage Traps: These are typically long, metal cages with a trigger mechanism. Choose a trap that is at least 30 inches long to accommodate an armadillo.
- Bait: Armadillos are attracted to insects. You can use earthworms, grubs, or commercial insect baits to lure them into the trap. Place the bait at the back of the trap to ensure the armadillo steps on the trigger plate.
- Placement: Place traps along known armadillo pathways or near burrow entrances.
- Checking Traps: Check traps frequently, at least twice a day (morning and evening), to minimize stress on the captured animal.
Relocation Guidelines
- Local Regulations: Before relocating any wildlife, check your local and state wildlife regulations. Some areas have specific rules about trapping and relocating animals.
- Suitable Habitat: Relocate the armadillo to a suitable habitat that has food and water sources and is away from residential areas. Ensure it’s a place where they are unlikely to cause problems for others.
- Distance: Relocate the animal at least 10-20 miles from your home to prevent them from finding their way back.
What About Armadillo Repellents That Don’t Work?
Some methods are often suggested but are less effective or even counterproductive.
- Repellent Sprays (Non-Natural): While some chemical repellents exist, they can be harmful to pets, children, and the environment. Natural alternatives are usually preferred.
- Noise Makers: Armadillos are generally not easily scared by noise and can become accustomed to it.
- Predator Urine: While the scent of some predators can deter certain animals, it’s often not effective for armadillos, who are relatively fearless.
Preventive Maintenance: Staying Ahead of the Problem
The key to keeping armadillos out of your yard long-term is consistent preventive maintenance.
- Regular Inspections: Periodically inspect your yard for signs of armadillo activity, such as fresh diggings or burrow entrances. Address any issues promptly.
- Maintain a Healthy Lawn: Continue with good lawn care practices to keep insect populations in check.
- Keep Gardens Tidy: Regularly clear away leaf litter and debris from your yard and garden areas.
- Secure Structures: Ensure that any openings under sheds, decks, or foundations remain sealed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Armadillos
Q1: Will Armadillos Hurt My Pets?
Generally, armadillos are not aggressive towards pets and will try to avoid them. However, if cornered, an armadillo might defend itself by scratching or biting. The main concern for pets is the potential for them to dig and injure themselves or become ill from eating an armadillo or its fleas.
Q2: Can Armadillos Carry Diseases?
Yes, armadillos can carry diseases, most notably leprosy. While the risk of transmission to humans is very low, it’s advisable to avoid direct handling of armadillos. Wear gloves if you need to capture or move one.
Q3: How Deep Do Armadillos Dig Their Burrows?
Armadillo burrows can vary in depth, but the main entrances are usually a few feet deep. They also create smaller “testing” holes as they forage. Their burrows are extensive and can have multiple entrances and chambers.
Q4: How Can I Tell If It’s an Armadillo Digging?
Armadillo digging is characterized by distinctive “plugged” holes, often about 3-5 inches in diameter, and generally shallow, created as they root for food. Their more extensive burrows are larger and deeper, typically 7-8 inches in diameter, and are used for sleeping and shelter. Other animals, like moles and voles, create different types of tunneling and mounds.
Q5: Are Armadillos Nocturnal?
Armadillos are primarily nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. However, they can also be active during dawn and dusk, and sometimes even during the day, especially on cool, overcast days.
Q6: What are the Best Armadillo Deterrents That Are Safe for Gardens?
Safe and effective natural armadillo deterrents for gardens include castor oil sprays (properly diluted), cayenne pepper sprinkled around plants, and planting strong-smelling herbs like garlic and onions. Ensuring good garden soil health to minimize grub populations is also a key preventive measure.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively keep armadillos out of your yard and protect your lawn and garden from their disruptive digging habits. Remember that consistency and a multi-faceted approach are key to long-term success.