What should I do if I find an armadillo in my yard? Once you know the armadillo hasnt returned you can remove the wire mesh and fill the burrow in with gravel. Armadillos know that dogs can harm them. Gardens. If youre trying to catch armadillos on your property, this may be the best time to keep an eye out for them. By comparison, the fastest human on earth, Usain Bolt, holds the record of running at an average speed of 27. They spend most of their lives sleeping and foraging on their own, except when breeding or caring for their young. Although they try to remain in areas where they know they will have access to food, they dont make major attempts to maintain their presence when confronted by a threat. Keep in mind that these critters are wild animals and may infect humans with diseases like rabies or leprosy. Youre going to have to take control and manage the infestation. Find the Right Scents. For all the tips and tricks shared, experience tells us that the use of a large cage trap to remove the animal, backed up by ultrasonic repellent devices to keep them outside of your property perimeter, is the most effective and humane treatment. Use armadillo baits for successful trapping. Lets learn how to catch an armadillo humanely: To get rid of an armadillo, you will need a metal cage trap of about 30 inches in length and at least 12 inches high. Keep the outside of your home opens in a new window well-lit, and they'll stay way. Filling the burrows you find with mixtures of dirt and pea gravel will make it difficult for other armadillos to dig them up. As a result, even if the smell doesnt keep them away, the difficulty of accessing food on your property might. Simply take the cage to a nearby woodland and release it. Armadillos are climbers, which means that a fence may not deter them from your property. However, thats not to say they wont claw your pets if they feel threatened. When an armadillo smells it, it will assume a natural predator is in the area. Because armadillos use their strong legs and front claws to dig, its crucial the fence is made of sturdy material and has no larger spaces for armadillos (or other creatures) to crawl through. Use repellents such as ammonia, cayenne pepper, or predator urine. The ideal trap will be about 12 x 10 x 30, large enough to capture the animal. 5. This is a simple way to flush the animal out. Grasslands, semi-deserts, and rain-forests all make comfortable homes for armadillos. There are even some that are capable of helping you spot pests. However, when it returns, it wont be able to get back in. Attach the trip mechanism to the pulleys and doors with strings. Early morning is when they emerge to forage. Of course, this can be an expensive option, so its better to consider this if you have a regular pest problem and can justify the expense. Ultimately, homeowners may wish to hire a professional to help control an armadillo infestation. That said, they are defensive animals and thus armadillos are not dangerous . Remove Food Sources 8. For instance, some people believe that if they find an armadillo burrow, dumping in mothballs or placing a rag soaked in ammonia near the burrow will drive the armadillo out of it. Gardens are a food source and should be treated with things that will deter flying squirrels from feasting on them. It may be worth investing in motion-activated lights and noise not just to repel armadillos, but also other potential pests, especially if you have small livestock that might benefit from general repellents. Email: [emailprotected]. The best and most reliable way to get rid of armadillos is to contact a local pest control company to customize a solution to your particular property. This is not something you want to have happen. So you can make it harder for them by covering up the entrance of the burrow. In most cases, the light does not hurt the creatures directly, but it does expose them. After you have removed these notorious diggers with the help of an armadillo trap, youll need to keep them out by using repellents. They dont like bright lights and will avoid areas that are well-lit. This is enough of a deterrent to keep some species, like skunks and opossums, away. They weigh an average of 12 pounds and are about 2.5 to 4 feet long. You should also know that armadillos can spread disease. If you remove one group of armadillos but dont take steps to prevent them from coming back, theres nothing stopping another group of armadillos from targeting your property later. Because armadillos like to prey on small insects, it can be difficult to remove all their prey. Thus, they may stay away from a property if they never get this opportunity. Now that weve identified these pesky pests and learned more about their habits, were ready to move on to the next step: Location! Protect the Interior of Your Home 10. Watch your step if walking near burrows and armadillo holes to avoid injury. Use armadillo traps as a secondary option. Thats why some experts recommend installing strong lighting around your property. Install motion-sensor lights around the property to deter armadillos from coming near. What do we mean when we say to sanitize your backyard? The scent will only last 30-60 days without a dispenser. This will scare them and keep them away from your property. These bugs eat the types of bugs that armadillos like to prey on. If you think that after trapping the armadillo and disinfecting your yard, this compulsive wanderer will never come back again, then you couldnt be more wrong! These little fellas are scared of being eaten by coyotes; and they will burrow elsewhere if they think they smell the wild animalnear. Purchase parasitic worms. Sprinkle these natural repellents liberally in the areas where you want to stave off raccoons. 3.5 Hire a Professional. 2. This, paired with the sound of a barking dog, are often enough to cause the armadillos to quickly exit your property. do lights deter armadillos. Just like other wandering animals, armadillos are attracted to food. Just make sure the noise the device makes isnt a nuisance and wont distract the neighbors if an armadillo crosses the devices path in the middle of the night. That means making sure you dont let it spend too much time in the trap. Armadillos prefer warm, humid climates and thrive in forests or woodlands. Remove Their Hiding Places 5. Armadillos have an excellent sense of smell, and strong odors are offensive for them. Removing debris and brushy areas from around your home may discourage armadillos. So in a strange way, they are a positive sign of the health of your land. In order for your pest control plan to remain effective, you must maintain it. Furthermore, setting out dishes of earthworms where you plan to lay a trap a few nights before can make it easier to bait armadillos into the cage. Thats because armadillos are so naturally accustomed to digging for food that they often pay no mind to food that is found on the surface. A strong sense of smell helps locate nutrition, but this can also be a hindrance if something emanating a foul stench is nearby. Just make sure you run the fence wire low to the ground so that an armadillo is more likely to come in contact with it. Youll be less likely to have an armadillo problem if you keep the lawn clean. They quickly reproduce and can strip the soil of nutrients, so if you want to As the seasons change, you may start to notice voles scurrying around your yard. Some wildlife specialists claim that even the smell given off by human hair can be enough to convince an armadillo that there is a predator in the area. During the night they dig non-stop in their quest for food. These critters will dig burrows and holes in search of insects like termites, beetles, and grubs [2]. When they smell a dog or hear it barking, theyll stay away. Gardeners can be thankful that there are several ways by which they can get rid of Armadillos. Armadillos dont hibernate but tend to become less active during the wintertime. However, you can absolutely take steps to make your lawn less hospitable to the kinds of insects that armadillos prey on. This method will do absolutely nothing to keep armadillos away from your property and will poison the environment. This will scare them and keep them away from your property. This article will provide suggestions you can apply in order to keep armadillos off your property for good. Armadillos are grayish-brown, barrel-shaped animals with natural armor to protect them from predators. How to Get Rid of Armadillos 1. This is the most effective solution for repelling armadillos and moles. If you have a dog, keep them on a leash when outside, as dogs can scare away armadillos. Armadillos are relatively small, and if gaps in the fence form, they can sneak their way in. What do armadillos eat? They may also infect a dog or cat with tapeworms. Thats why some wildlife experts recommend planting garlic along the edges of your property. Thus, armadillos will be less likely to target your property. These fierce critters can tear apart large areas of the lawn and create a burrow within a single day. However, brushy areas are often valuable habitats for songbirds and other wildlife. This has led some people to think that you can deter these creatures with foul-smelling chemicals and potions made from the urine of their natural predators. The above steps on how to get rid of armadillos from your yard will not only treat your pest problem for good but also prevents these habitual wanderers from returning. This is not the case. You shouldnt expect success overnight. Nine-banded armadillos can damage lawns or gardens, so identifying burrows and signs of an unwelcome guest early are essential. The bizarre-looking 4 legged creatures with an armored covering, surmising a cross between a pangolin and a rabbit (Yeah, quite an absurd combination) that's Armadillos for you. You also want to make sure youre not exposed to any illnesses the animals may be carrying, although this isnt likely to be a problem. This means you can more easily find them (and keep them away from your lawn) if youre willing to make some modifications to your current landscaping. You might spray a bad-tasting but nontoxic repellent found. It is not uncommon to find huge labyrinths created by these notorious little diggers. Lure Stray Cats Elsewhere. In other words, the kind of damage these animals can do if you ignore the problem is often costly. Plus, its all-natural no poisons or chemicals required! However, if you own a golf course or other large property that can often be targeted by armadillos and other pests, installing cameras to help you track them may be a worthwhile option to consider. You certainly dont want to find an armadillo in the house at any point. Armadillos also tend to dig so that they can crawl into a dark, cool spot to sleep. A strong sprinkler can definitely be an effective tool for keeping armadillos out of your lawn. All you have to do is place crushed garlic on the ground where the armadillos have been disturbing. Larger animals,. Shake cayenne pepper liberally around your yard to ward them off. Shooting is an option, and armadillo meat is edible; however, remember that it is illegal to discharge firearms in some areas and to use artificial lights to aid in shooting. Additionally, if youre trying to remove armadillos that are already on your property, having strong lighting can definitely make it easier to find them during the darker times of day. They are even known to eat snakes, rabbits, and dead animal carcasses. Additionally, if you try to use bait, theres a good chance youll simply attract another animal instead, like a raccoon. Armadillos make up for their poor eyesight with an incredible sense of smell. This disease is usually passed on to people through an armadillos scratch or bite. Commercial armadillo repellents use substances like castor oil to spoil an armadillos food source and create an unpleasant odor inside armadillo burrows. The pungent smell should be enough to keep them away. Simply backfill the trench and fix the protruding fence to posts or your existing fence structure. A large or extra large trap with either one or two doors on either side, for a higher capture rate. You can use sprinklers to protect your plants, flowerbeds, entryways, pathways, and just about anywhere else that an armadillo can dig into. Again, you want to be as humane as possible when trying to remove an armadillo from your property. If youre not too keen on the smell of fox urine (I wouldnt blame you! Big ones. Drive stakes in every corner except one. | Opossum or Possum, 3- to 5-inch-wide holes throughout the lawn with a depth of 1 to 3 inches, Burrows close to the home or underneath structures, Cracks in driveways or sidewalks as a result of burrowing, Armadillo tracks in mud or dirt look for four long-toed prints, each with a sharp claw, Ideally place it directly above the armadillo hole entrance, if you can locate it, Along the wall line or along a fence. Thats why its important to familiarize yourself with the signs of an infestation. Again, armadillos spend a large portion of the day in their burrows. They can even hold their breath for up to 5 minutes as they skillfully walk underwater to cross rivers! Armadillos are primarily nocturnal creatures. Building a fence around properties can possibly keep out an armadillo; but there are a few installation to-do's. This natural oil will also create an unpleasant smell inside the burrow so the armadillo wont want to stay there too long. Motion-sensing lights can also be a great way to deter armadillos. This is likely going to cost you more than these options will, but for some people, knowing that someone with professional experience is addressing the problem is worth the expense. Simply get some pine needles or bark and scatter them throughout your lawn to make it less hospitable to these pests. Mothballs are the most commonly used repellents for these animals. It may be located around a structure like a shed.