Just make sure any chemicals you apply to your lawn are safe, especially if you have children or pets who spend time out in the yard. View complete answer on hunker.com. The information here wont just help you get rid of armadillos temporarily. For approximately 16 hours a day, the average armadillo will sleep in a burrow. While armadillos prefer warm habitats, some have been found as far north as Nebraska and Illinois. The kinds of bugs armadillos eat simply wont be drawn to your lawn in the first place if you dont give them any sources of food. - Have a Strong Fence Built Around Many gardeners wake up to find their beloved flowers and lawns uprooted from one night of feeding by an armadillo. Its worth noting that you should make an effort to protect the inside of your home from armadillo intruders as well. This choice is a humane, long-lasting underground solution for driving out an animal that relies heavily on smell and only cares about its next meal. Once you have a better sense of what areas of the lawn the armadillo tends to spend most of its time in, youll be much more likely to find ways of getting rid of them. Use Texture as Cat Deterrent. Armadillo can be controlled by trapping. do lights deter armadillos . Since armadillos are nocturnal, they usually come out late at night or early in the morning. You want to be as humane as possible when removing armadillos from your property. Armadillo repellent reviews [Ultrasonic, Liquid & Urine] They burrow, they dig through your garden, they get into spoiled fruit in the compost pile and spoiled meat from the trash can. Strong smells can overwhelm armadillos and drive them away from a property. Im not a fan of this approach. Some homeowners have had success using a motion-activated light that rings a buzzer and wakes them up when an armadillo is present. There are some cases in which it is possible to remove these food sources. Yes, lights may help to deter armadillos from certain areas. Additionally, armadillos are well adapted to off-road . It's best to keep mothballs at the store. Keep in mind that armadillos tend to stick to the outskirts of a property instead of walking directly through the middle of it. Its more conclusive to trap the animal so you know 100% its been removed. Fencing is also a popular solution to wildlife invasion. Again, armadillos typically strive to remain in areas where they will have regular, easy access to food. Look into animal and pest control companies in your area and find out if they have experience handling armadillos. Thats why some people make the mistake of assuming their plants will be safe from harm even if armadillos look for food on their property. Most modern sprinklers are based on motion-activated technology that captures any movement in the area. View complete answer on forestwildlife.org. Another step to take in natural armadillo control is to install a fence. But first, its worth learning more about what they eat and where they live. If mowing the lawn hasnt helped you find where armadillos are making their home on your property, you could purchase security cameras that are specifically designed for filming at night. Wear gloves or long pants if planning to touch or be within an arms length of an armadillo. For example, if you use dark mulch, it will absorb the warmth of the sun and create the kind of environment that makes a wonderful home for insects. Were talking about the kind of problem where they are digging up your lawn and garden in search of grubs and insects. During dry spells, any watering will usually attract any armadillos in the area. Theres no harm in grabbing them and tossing them around the lawn to see if this remedy works. You can also apply it at the base of the house and sheds. Shooting is another effective method to eliminate nuisance armadillos. This is the most effective solution for repelling armadillos and moles. Make a Homemade Repellent 5. They are most active in the very late hours of the morning (2:00 to 5:00 a.m.), at least during the hot summer months. Thus, simply ignoring this problem can be very costly. 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 nine-banded armadillo is the only species of armadillo that has made its way into the United States from Latin America, where as many as 20 different species of armadillos live. If you have valuable plants in your garden and you dont have a fence to protect them, you should at least install chicken wire around them for protection. However, rain can easily wash away cayenne. Their armor consists of overlapping plates that extend all the way from their head to their tail. Cant figure who would want one! Removing debris and brushy areas from around your home may discourage armadillos. Obviously, you should consult with a veterinarian or other pet specialist before using this tactic. Armadillos arent likely to attack cats or dogs as their armor is for the sole purpose of defense. This is the most effective solution for repelling armadillos and moles. Fencing. Do lights deter armadillos? Thats why its important to thoroughly research all applicable regulations first before setting a trap. When startled, the nine-banded armadillo can leap vertically in the air, sometimes as high as 4 feet! To save on power, you can even get solar-powered motion-sensor lights to install in your yard. A strong sprinkler can definitely be an effective tool for keeping armadillos out of your lawn. Commercial armadillo repellents use substances like castor oil to spoil an armadillos food source and create an unpleasant odor inside armadillo burrows. 3.3 Get a Dog. For instance, many people apply insecticide to their properties to keep them free of bugs. They don't like bright lights and will avoid areas that are well-lit. Armadillos Hate A Strong Fence. Youre going to have to take control and manage the infestation. Drive stakes in every corner except one. Once all the contaminants have been removed from your lawn, apply a disinfectant product to kill any bacteria and viruses. Armadillos dont actually see or hear very well. Creatures behave in different ways so identification is critical for success. Other wildlife control specialists insist that simply practicing basic lawn care and maintenance can be enough to keep armadillos at bay. 5 Easy Steps: How to Get Rid of Armadillos from Your Backyard, Step 3. If none of these methods work to humanely get rid of armadillos, your state may allow trapping and relocation of armadillos. Light isn't an effective rat deterrent as light isn't damaging to their bodies or eyes. Site designed by EYStudios. Firstly, armadillos do not chew; so a metal rodent fence is not completely necessary; but addressing the digging is critical. Live Trapping With Bait How to Prevent Armadillos Armadillo Problems: What To Look For Keep in-mind that armadillos can jump 3-4 feet straight up; but they lack poor vision; so, they will most likely not attempt a jump unless chased by a coyote (similar to a deer). While armadillos may appear cute to some; they carry leprosy and are responsible for the spread of the disease. These crops are also known as decoy crops or sacrificial plants and (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The content posted on this website and our social media pages is provided for informational purposes only. But that doesnt mean you have to put up with them. They might also get too close to the patio area. This natural oil will also create an unpleasant smell inside the burrow so the armadillo wont want to stay there too long. 26 Armadillo Facts: Debunking the myths! It is believed that the bright light is a source of stress for the armadillos, causing them to make a quick exit in search of a better, more suitable home. Similarly, if you have any rock piles and debris piles in your yard, move them somewhere else. If the damage is isolated to a garden area, an electric fence can be an effective form of control. You certainly dont want to find an armadillo in the house at any point. Armadillos are primarily nocturnal creatures. Areas such as Florida, Arkansas, Georgia, and Oklahoma [1]. Armadillos that have found prey in the ground will often use their claws and feet to access the prey. These devices work by sensing the movement of the armadillo when it enters your property and then spraying it with a burst of water. Use repellents such as ammonia, cayenne pepper, or predator urine. This doesnt happen often, but it is by no means impossible. On top of that, large armadillo burrows can destabilize certain areas of your property. You want to get armadillos off your property, but you also want to make sure youre not breaking the law when trapping them. In winter, they are more so active during the daytime. to rid armadillos. Armadillos also tend to dig so that they can crawl into a dark, cool spot to sleep. They hunt for their grub in the dark of the night. You shouldnt expect success overnight. To further keep away armadillos, use pine needles and bark as mulch in your garden. This, paired with the sound of a barking dog, are often enough to cause the armadillos to quickly exit your property. However, while sporadic, several cases of armadillo-borne leprosy (or Hansens disease) in humans have been reported. Restrict Their Food Supply 2. Don't get impatient:Additionally, its important not to get impatient when trying to get rid of armadillos. Grasslands, semi-deserts, and rain-forests all make comfortable homes for armadillos. Pungent odors like garlic can disrupt armadillos' ability to smell and might be unpleasant enough to deter them from your property. You could also use various scent repellents to chase the armadillo out. This is a worthwhile tactic to attempt if youre looking to scare armadillos away without the help of another animal. Again, you dont have to have a large pet of your own to scare armadillos away. In addition to garlic, you can sprinkle cayenne powder near a potential food source. While it might be tough to spot the animal (as theyre nocturnal), identifying where theyve done damage may be easier. So its important to take urgent action to gain control of your pest problem and prevent significant armadillo damage to your property. The holes armadillos dig can reach three inches in depth and five inches in length. If you dont have a dog and dont think the sprinkler option is ideal for your needs, consult with a pest control specialist to learn about animals in your area that naturally prey on armadillos. The pungent smell should be enough to keep them away. Thus, they prefer to remain in relatively temperate climates. Theyre also relatively easy to set up and use. If so, odds are good you left behind a lot of crumbs and debris that could be very attractive to insects. You want the shock to be strong enough to deter the animal, but not so strong that you cause it genuine harm. You can do this by either removing the objects theyre hiding under or by making the area less hospitable.