How to Get Rid of Armadillos: A Property Owner's Battle Plan Against These Armored Invaders

I'll never forget the morning I discovered my lawn looked like a miniature battlefield. Divots everywhere, plants uprooted, and what appeared to be a network of shallow trenches crisscrossing my once-pristine garden. The culprit? A nine-banded armadillo that had apparently decided my property was the perfect midnight buffet.

If you're reading this, you've probably experienced something similar. Maybe you've even caught a glimpse of these prehistoric-looking creatures waddling across your yard at dusk, their armor plating catching the last rays of sunlight. There's something almost comical about them until you realize the extent of damage they can inflict on a carefully maintained landscape.

Understanding Your Armored Adversary

Before we dive into removal strategies, let me share something that took me years to fully appreciate: armadillos aren't malicious. They're simply following their biological imperative to find food, and unfortunately, our irrigated, grub-rich lawns are basically all-you-can-eat restaurants for these creatures.

Armadillos are insectivores with an almost obsessive focus on their diet. Their poor eyesight means they rely heavily on their keen sense of smell to locate insects, grubs, and larvae beneath the soil surface. This is why they dig those characteristic cone-shaped holes – they're not trying to ruin your lawn; they're just really, really hungry.

What makes armadillos particularly challenging to deal with is their surprising athleticism. Despite their clumsy appearance, they can jump three to four feet straight up when startled. I learned this the hard way when I tried to corner one with a garbage can lid. The thing launched itself like a scaly rocket, clearing my makeshift barrier with room to spare.

The Art of Armadillo Exclusion

Physical barriers remain the gold standard for armadillo control, though implementing them requires more effort than most homeowners initially anticipate. The key insight here is understanding that armadillos are surprisingly poor climbers but exceptional diggers.

A proper armadillo fence needs to extend at least 18 inches underground – and I mean straight down, not at an angle. Some folks make the mistake of angling their buried fence outward, thinking it'll deter digging. But armadillos aren't that sophisticated in their problem-solving; they'll simply dig next to the angled portion.

The above-ground portion should be at least 24 inches high, though 36 inches provides better insurance against those surprising jumping abilities I mentioned earlier. Use small mesh wire (no larger than 3 inches) because juvenile armadillos can squeeze through surprisingly small gaps.

Here's something most people don't realize: armadillos often follow the same paths night after night. If you can identify these highways – usually along fence lines, building foundations, or natural landscape features – you can create strategic barriers rather than fencing your entire property. I've had success with L-shaped barriers at key entry points, saving considerable time and money.

Trapping: The Chess Match

Live trapping armadillos requires patience and a bit of cunning. These aren't raccoons that'll eagerly enter a trap for a can of tuna. Armadillos are singularly focused on live prey, which makes baiting traps nearly impossible.

The secret lies in trap placement rather than bait. Position traps along established travel routes, ideally where natural or artificial barriers create a funnel effect. Think of it like setting up a speed trap on a highway – you want to catch them where they have no choice but to pass through.

Wooden boards or temporary fencing can create these funnels, directing armadillos toward your trap. The trap itself should be at least 32 inches long and 12 inches high. Anything smaller risks injury to the animal or escape.

I've found that covering the trap with a dark cloth or tarp increases success rates, probably because it makes the trap feel more like a natural burrow or shelter. Just ensure adequate ventilation.

The Grub Connection

Here's where my approach differs from conventional wisdom. Most advice focuses on removing armadillos after they've arrived, but I've had better long-term success by making my property less attractive in the first place.

The relationship between lawn grubs and armadillos is like that between pizza shops and college students – where you find one, you'll likely find the other. By managing grub populations, you remove the primary food source drawing armadillos to your property.

Beneficial nematodes have been my secret weapon. These microscopic worms parasitize grubs without harming beneficial insects or earthworms. Apply them in late summer when grub populations peak, and you'll notice a significant reduction in armadillo activity the following spring.

Some old-timers swear by spreading crushed red pepper or predator urine around the property. In my experience, these remedies work about as well as asking the armadillos politely to leave. They might cause temporary avoidance, but hungry armadillos quickly learn to ignore these deterrents.

When Professional Help Makes Sense

I'm all for DIY solutions, but there are times when calling in professionals makes economic and practical sense. If you're dealing with multiple armadillos, extensive burrow systems, or if local regulations restrict DIY wildlife control, professional intervention becomes necessary.

Wildlife control operators have access to equipment and techniques not available to homeowners. They also understand local armadillo behavior patterns and can often resolve issues more quickly than trial-and-error DIY methods.

The cost-benefit analysis is straightforward: compare the price of professional removal (typically $150-500 depending on the complexity) against the ongoing cost of lawn repair and the time investment of DIY methods. For many homeowners, especially those with limited time or physical limitations, professional help is the smart choice.

Living with Armadillos: An Alternative Perspective

This might be controversial, but I've come to believe that complete armadillo elimination isn't always necessary or even desirable. These animals do provide some ecological benefits, consuming enormous quantities of insects and aerating soil through their digging activities.

If damage is limited to less visible areas of your property, consider designated "armadillo zones" where their activity is tolerated. This approach requires a shift in perspective from manicured perfection to a more naturalistic landscape aesthetic.

I've designated the back corner of my property as a wildlife area, complete with native plants and natural mulch. Armadillos still visit, but they concentrate their activities in this zone rather than destroying my front lawn. It's a compromise that works for both of us.

The Reality Check

Let me be frank: armadillo control is rarely a one-and-done proposition. These animals have expanded their range dramatically over the past century, and they're here to stay. Success comes from combining multiple strategies and maintaining vigilance rather than expecting a single solution to solve the problem permanently.

The most effective approach I've developed combines strategic fencing at key entry points, grub population management, and selective trapping when necessary. This integrated strategy has reduced armadillo damage on my property by about 90% – not perfect, but certainly manageable.

Remember that armadillos are simply trying to survive in an increasingly urbanized landscape. While property damage is frustrating, approaching the problem with understanding rather than anger leads to better outcomes for everyone involved.

Whether you choose exclusion, trapping, habitat modification, or professional help, the key is persistence and adaptability. What works on one property might fail on another, so be prepared to adjust your strategy based on results.

The battle against armadillos isn't really a battle at all – it's more like an ongoing negotiation between human desires for ordered landscapes and wildlife needs for food and shelter. Finding that balance point where both can coexist, even imperfectly, might be the most sustainable solution of all.

Authoritative Sources:

Chamberlain, Erin, and James Armstrong. Armadillo Control and Management. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, 2019.

McDonough, Colleen M., and W. J. Loughry. The Nine-Banded Armadillo: A Natural History. University of Oklahoma Press, 2013.

"Managing Wildlife Damage: Armadillos." Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University System, 2021.

Mengak, Michael T. "Using Traps to Capture Wildlife." University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Bulletin 1434, 2018.

"Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)." National Wildlife Control Training Program, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2020.

Ober, Holly K., and William M. Giuliano. "How to Get Rid of Armadillos." EDIS Publication WEC76, University of Florida IFAS Extension, 2018.