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Armadillos

Control, Biology, Identification of Armadillos

Control Measures   Armadillo Control Summary         

Armadillo Information          Armadillo Damage

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.  
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.  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.
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 pest 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 products preferred by our customers for use in ridding their lawns and gardens of nuisance burrowing wildlife: Whole Control and Mole Out.  Whole Control is a liquid that is applied to lawns, flower beds or gardens with the use of a hose-end sprayer.  Mole Out is a granular product that is broadcast over areas where burrowing animals are a problem.  Whole Control is very successful in eliminating mole and vole problems but should not be used in armadillo control as a stand-alone product; Whole Control should be used either in combination with Mole Out or after two Permethrin spray applications.  Being a liquid, Whole Control tends to go a little too deep in the soil to have a dynamic impact on an animal as large as an Armadillo.  Mole Out granular repellent releases its ingredient on the soil's surface, having a greater impact on Armadillos.
For those who do not wish to use an insecticide, Whole Control and Mole Out should be used as a "one-two" punch.  First, spray the affected area with Whole Control.  Your next step is to broadcast Mole Out 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.


Whole Control can be used at varying rates; a quart of concentrate will cover from 2,500 square feet to 10,000 square feet.  Use one quart per 2,500 square feet for Armadillo elimination.  There are many such liquid animal repellents on the market, many with the same active ingredient as Whole Control but not manufactured with the same amount -- Whole Control contains 100% Castor Oil.  Most other repellents contain only 45% to 65% Castor Oil.  Armadillo elimination demands the highest concentrate available.  Use only 100% castor oil for this job.  Be prepared for repeat applications.

Mole Out granular repellent should be applied at the rate of 1 pound per 500 square feet.  After applying the granules evenly to affected area, lightly water the area.

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:

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.

Applying Repellents -- Use 1 pound of Mole Out granules per 500 square feet of lawn.  For stubborn armadillo problems: spray area with Whole Control;  broadcast Mole Out granules;  water area.  Repeat procedure in 10 days, if necessary.

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.
armadillo trapBack to Armadillo Control Summary

 

 

 

armadillo