Armadillos
Control, Biology, Identification of Armadillos
Control Measures Armadillo Control Summary
Armadillo Information Armadillo Damage Armadillo Control Products
Armadillo Information
Control Measures, Armadillo Damage Armadillo Control Summary
An Armadillo can cause tremendous damage to cultivated areas
such as your manicured lawn, golf courses. This damage is due to this mammal's diet
of grubs, insects and other small invertebrates. While hunting for food, an
Armadillo can wreak havoc on turf, digging small to medium holes in numerous
locations. While there are many people who are fascinated with the Armadillo and its
habits, those who spend many long hours cultivating a nice lawn do not appreciate their
grassy front yard resembling a mine field!
These armored mammals can also cause great damage to ornamental and fruit trees. The
burrows (which can run up to 25 feet long) often disturb and damage the root systems of
trees and shrubs. This burrowing activity also damages concrete slabs, creating air
pockets beneath the concrete that weakens (and many times cracks) the foundation of homes
and other buildings.
Homes built off-grade (including mobile homes) are not immune to Armadillo damage.
Their tunnels help create water run-off problems and often cause flooding beneath homes.
Elimination of Nuisance Armadillos
There are several wildlife control measures that can be used in the elimination of
nuisance Armadillos: elimination of food source, trapping,
shooting, repelling.
Every situation is different and each State may have laws which limit you to control
measures you are allowed to take in your area. While one method is great for one
person, another might want or need another control measure or combination of more than one
method of elimination. The most widely accepted and used method
of controlling these burrowing pests is trapping.
Armadillo Control Summary
Shooting is a controversial subject and one that we will not discuss in this article. Check with your local, state and county before using this pest elimination method.
Most people will first try eliminating the insects or grubs in
their lawn as their first step in ridding themselves of destructive Armadillos. In
certain areas of the Southeast United States, the presence of Armadillos coincides with molecricket infestations in lawns
and grassy areas. If Armadillos are digging in your lawn because you have
molecricket problems, go to
molecricket elimination.
The pest control product giving the best results for molecrickets (and other lawn pests)
is Talstar. Available in granular and liquid concentrate
forms, Talstar granules are the most popular.
If your Armadillo pest is feeding primarily on grubs or worms you should use Permethrin Pro or Merit
Systemic Insecticide Granules. Grubs and worms are generally much deeper
in the soil than other lawn pests. While Talstar is very popular in Florida and
other Gulf Coast regions where water tables are high and underground water contamination
is a serious issue (Talstar is less likely to leech than other pesticides,) Talstar is not
known to give a good kill for the deeper dwelling grubs and worms. Permethrin Pro is more likely to penetrate to the areas where
the Armadillo's food source is located and will kill many lawn pests: molecrickets, chinch bugs, ants and others. Merit
Systemic Granules cost a little more than grub control granules found
in home improvement stores but its high content of active ingredients will
give the season long control needed for white grubs.
Eliminating the food source of the Armadillo may take several applications, so be patient
and persistent. After its food source disappears, the animal's burrowing may
actually increase for a day or so until it realizes it must move on to other areas.
Remember that the Armadillo is not among the smarter animals in the world; it may take a
few days for it to decide it needs another foraging ground.
In severe cases, a stubborn Armadillo might need a little help in leaving your lawn or golf course. If this is your situation, follow up your pesticide application with a good repellent or combination of repellents. The best results have been achieved by making two applications of Permethrin (about 10 days between applications) and applying your repellent 5 days following your second Permethrin Pro treatment.
The use of repellents is an attractive alternative animal control method for many people, for various reasons:
- Repellents are safer for your children and pets.
- They can be used in a wide range of locations such as gardens, flower beds, playgrounds -- areas where we would be hesitant to use contact insecticides.
- In stubborn mole, vole and armadillo infestations, using a combination of insecticide and repellent is often necessary.
There are two types of products preferred by our customers for use in ridding their lawns and
gardens of nuisance burrowing wildlife: castor
oil spray and all natural granular repellents.
For those who do not wish to use an insecticide, liquid and granular repellents
should be used
as a "one-two" punch. First, spray the affected area with
castor oil. Your next step is to broadcast a granular repellent over the same
area. To complete the operation, lightly water the treated area.
Some animals are easier to deter than others and can sometimes be eliminated with only one
or two applications of an animal repellent. Armadillos are among the most stubborn
of these lawn pests and might take several applications of a repellent or a combination of insecticide and repellent.
Armadillos can be difficult to repel. Be prepared to make a second application in 10 days if the animals' activity has not stopped.
Armadillo Control Summary
Armadillos can be controlled by:
- Eliminating Armadillo food source by pesticide application.
- Applying repellents
- Combining pesticide application with repellents.
- Trapping
Pesticide Application -- Spray lawn with Permethrin Pro; apply product with hose-end sprayer. You will need 1½ ounces Permethrin Pro concentrate per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Repeat application should be made two weeks later.
Combining Pesticide Application with
Repellents -- Make two applications of Permethrin Pro (2 weeks apart); wait 5 days;
apply your repellents.
[Combine Pesticide Application with Applying
Repellents]
Trapping -- Use the Safeguard Raccoon Trap to remove unwanted
Armadillos from lawns, gardens, orchards, golf courses and other areas. Bait your
trap with overripe fruit (such as apples or bananas,) earthworms held in thin netting or
panty hose materials. These traps are more effective when "wings" are
added to direct the Armadillo into the trap (see illustration below). Set the traps
in the area where the damage is occurring, for example, around the house, in the flower
garden, or in the vegetable garden. The trap can be used to capture
and relocate armadillos, raccoons,
stray cats and other small to medium animals. However, the wire mesh
is too large to hold rats. For rats and
squirrels, use the live
rat trap.
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