Armadillos are often seen in Jacksonville, Florida, because the weather is warm and there is a lot of food near water. These naturally armored animals do best in hot and muggy places, so this is a great place for them.
But their presence can cause problems for people who live there. They can be easily identified by the burrows they leave next to buildings, sidewalks, bushes, or shrubs, as well as by cracks in walkways, driveways, or building structures and plants that have been pulled out of the ground.
Figuring out their habits and likes is important for getting rid of them for good.
What Are Armadillos?
The armadillo is a barrel-shaped, grayish-brown animal with a tough shell that covers its whole body. This armor is made up of plates that fit on top of each other and can be any color of brown.
Armadillos have short legs, a pointy nose, and black eyes that are very small. The nine-banded armadillo is the most popular type. It can be anywhere from 25 to 45 inches long, which is about the size of a big house cat.
Armadillos aren’t steady when it comes to hunting. They can’t catch meat because their teeth aren’t strong enough, but they can dig for food with their strong claws and grind it up to eat.
What Do Armadillos Eat?
Armadillos mostly eat bugs, but they can also eat other things. In addition, they eat fruits and veggies, so any garden or yard is open to them. They like sandy, porous earth because it makes it easy for them to dig for food near water.
This means that armadillos are more likely to live in places with lots of plants and easy access to water. In the event that you see damage to your plants or signs of armadillos, you must move quickly to stop further damage.
Are Armadillos Dangerous?
Even though armadillos may look like they aren’t dangerous, they can be. The fact that they might carry gonorrhea is the biggest worry.
You should stay away from armadillos and avoid coming into close contact with them because of this. If you think you have armadillos on your land, you need to take steps to keep yourself and your family safe.
When Are Armadillos Most Active?
Armadillos are most active at night, especially in the hot summer months, when they are most active between 2:00 and 5:00 a.m. Unfortunately, these interesting animals can’t see very well and avoid doing things when it’s very hot or very cold.
Bear in mind that male armadillos might be more active during the mating season. This means that they are more likely to be seen at these times.
Signs You Have An Armadillo Problem
If you think armadillos have taken over your yard, you should find them first before you try to get rid of them or keep them from coming back. Take a walk around your property and look for damage that could have been caused by an armadillo. Some of these are:
- Long snout prints in your soil
- There are holes in your yard that are about 4 to 5 inches wide and 2 to 3 inches deep.
- Digs around the outside of your house
- Odors of fish and other bad things in your yard that could be armadillos marking their area or being scared or excited
- Flower stems uprooted
- Underground wire and pipe lines that are broken
- Driveways, walks, or pools that are broken
The holes could be caused by gophers, moles, or the well-known woodchucks if you see mounds next to them. Your unknown digger can be found by telling them where you live.
Some armadillos have been found as far north as Illinois, but most of them live in the southern United States, from Texas to Florida. Moles and pocket gophers, on the other hand, live in the eastern states and the southern Great Plains.
How to Get Rid of Armadillos in Florida
Getting rid of armadillos can’t be done in one way. Still, these 6 ways have been shown to be more effective than others at keeping armadillos out.
1. Eliminate Their Food Source
For an armadillo, a five-star meal means termites, grubs, and other bugs as the main course, with fruits and vegetables on the side. Trimming and pruning your gardening can make your yard look less appealing. This will make it less likely that bugs will hide in your bushes and attract armadillos.
You can use a broad-spectrum insecticide to get rid of all the bugs, or you can use eco-friendly helpful nematodes to get rid of grubs. For fruit plants, pick up any fruit that falls off as soon as you can. The armadillos can’t get to food sources if you cover your flower beds and veggie garden with wire mesh.
2. Get Rid Of Potential Hiding Places
Armadillos don’t just rely on their plates; they like extra protection when they dig. While armadillos are facing away from danger, shrubs, bushy trees, rock piles, and other waste protect them from further harm. The following wild animals are known to eat armadillos:
- Bobcats
- Coyotes
- Foxes
- Raccoons
- Cougars
- Black bears
Armadillos will have fewer places to hide in your yard if you get rid of big, bushy plants and replace them with low-lying groundcover or dirt. Trim bushes neatly and regularly pick up leaves and branches that have dropped off.
3. Install In-Ground Fencing
Getting rid of the food and housing that armadillos use is a good start, but you might need to do more. A wire fence that goes deep into the ground is a great way to keep armadillos from getting under the ground.
If you can’t put up fencing around the whole outside of your property, you should be able to keep armadillos away by covering the area around your flower beds and veggie gardens. They won’t come to your yard as much if they can’t get their favorite foods.
Your in-ground fence should go at least 18 inches into the ground because armadillos like to dig. To keep the armadillos away, it should be at least a foot high and bend outward in a L shape, which is a 40-degree angle. Bear in mind that these animals are smart, so a fence alone won’t always keep them out.
4. Install Electric Fencing
In order to keep armadillos from getting over your brand-new fence, you might want to add an electric wire. The animals should be scared away by a single strand that is 3 to 4 inches high, stands a foot away from your fence, and is held up by stakes.
Still, how you set up your electric wires in your yard will depend a lot on your wants, your budget, and the features of your property (size, soil type, moisture, terrain, etc.). Talk to a professional about your plans to get an answer that fits your needs. Remember that electric lines should not be near places where kids or pets play.
5. Consider Live Trapping
One of the best ways to get rid of these animals, though not the only one, is to use bait and traps. Sometimes, catching can’t be done and it can be very scary.
Armadillo toys like these can be bought in pet stores or online:
- Pond worms (Lumbricus terrestris)
- Wigglers (Pheretima hawayanus)
- Crickets (Acheta domesticus)
- Red worms (Eisenia hortenis)
- Millipedes (Dipolopda)
You could also try any of the following common foods:
- Peanut butter
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Avocados
Because armadillos can’t see food from far away, you need to set the trap and bait in a place where they are likely to be. Those are live burrows and brush.
As armadillo traps, 10x10x32-inch cage traps work well. Pick one that has “wings” made of 4-inch or 6-inch boards that are about 6 feet long and open on both ends. These boards should guide the animal inside.
Find out how to catch and release an armadillo by looking at your state’s wildlife rules. Even better, you could call a wildlife removal service in your area to make sure the move goes smoothly.
6. Use Bug Control Regularly
Just because you get rid of your armadillo trouble now doesn’t mean you’ll never have another one. To keep armadillos out of your yard for good, you need to do regular property checks and active pest control (the steps above), even if that means hiring a company to do it for you.
FAQ About Getting Rid of Armadillos in Your Yard
Are Armadillos Dangerous?
Armadillos aren’t mean animals. But be careful when you try to catch an armadillo because it will fight back and its sharp claws could hurt you.
It is important to know that armadillos can give people herpes if they get scratched or bitten. In North America, though, the risk isn’t very high. There is also a chance that they will give you rabies, but not more than with other wild animals like possums, rats, and mice.
What Are Armadillos’ Habits?
It’s good for armadillos to be left alone. Even though they aren’t mean, they might jump up to 4 feet in the air to scare you if you startle them. They are alone most of the time and only get together to mate or stay warm.
Why Do Armadillos Burrow?
Armadillo burrows offer safety from the weather and predators, a place to raise young, and easy access to food like roots. They don’t store a lot of food in their burrows, so they have to go foraging on the ground level pretty often, especially when it’s cooler.
Can Light Be Used To Deter Armadillos?
Armadillos are nocturnal, which means they like it when it’s dark outside. If you’re afraid that armadillos are drawn to your yard, you can keep them away by putting up bright lights or lights that turn on when they sense movement.
Do Armadillo Repellents Work?
The short answer is most likely not. It is generally agreed by experts that mothballs, chili pepper, castor oil, and ammonia will not get rid of armadillos.