Armadillos are considered a pest, a critter, due to their habit of digging, burrowing, and excavating.
Armadillos use their sharp claws to dig for food, such as grubs, and to dig dens. Armadillos have very poor eyesight and use their keen sense of smell to hunt for food. Armadillos have short legs but can move very quickly. Armadillos like to swim, and they are very good at it walking along the bottom of streams and ponds. They can hold their breath for four to six minutes at a time. The nine-banded armadillo is the most common species to Florida.They have an unusual reproductive system, in which four genetically identical offspring are born, the only mammal known to do so. Baby armadillos have soft shells, like human fingernails that get harder as the animal grows, depositing bone under the skin to make a solid shell.
The most common complaints of this critter include:
- tunnel under the house
- Small holes all over the lawn
- Landscaping/mulch is uprooted
- Burrowing is cracking concrete
- Burrowing is destroying pipes
- Presence is alarming dogs/pets
What is an armadillo?
Armadillos are one of two types of marsupials found in North America, having migrated from South America to populate the south-eastern United States. There are several varieties, but the only type that lives in the US is the 9-banded armadillo. These interesting, armored creatures do serve an important function in that they consume a host of harmful pests, such as spiders, termites and fire ants. Unfortunately, they can also do quite a bit of damage because they dig deep burrows to dwell in and to find food.
Professional armadillo removal service: visual characteristics
The name “armadillo” actually means “little-armored one”. When you see one, you will recognize it immediately because of its grayish-tan, segmented, bony plates. Nine-banded armadillos are about the size of a cat or possum, weighing in at approximately 12 pounds. The body of an armadillo is about 15 inches long, and the tail is about the same length. Armadillos have very flexible bone structure, which allows them to roll up into a ball when frightened. Their exterior armor protects them from injury.
Armadillo removal service: where do armadillos come from?
Several types of armadillos live in Mexico and the rest of South America, but 9-banded armadillos only live in Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma and Texas. They are sensitive to very cold and dry climates and (at this point in time) cannot survive farther north. They lack fatty tissue and are unable to retain water efficiently, so they must live in consistently warm, humid areas.
Do armadillos enter yards and dwellings?
You may see armadillos around your yard at dusk when they are actively looking for insects and grubs to eat. If you live in a fairly natural area, they may just travel through your property without doing any harm. If you have lots of grubs and bugs in your yard, you may attract quite a few of the critters. If armadillos take up residence in your yard, you will see their burrows, which are large and deep. These burrows can be potentially damaging to your landscape.
Can armadillos can be harmful?
When armadillos dig to find food, they can make holes that are between one and three inches deep and three-to-five inches wide. These represent significant divots in your landscape that are unsightly and may cause you to turn an ankle. If armadillos burrow under your sidewalks or your foundation, real damage can occur as the burrows are about a foot wide at the entrance and a couple of feet deep, at a minimum. Armadillos don’t typically spread disease, but when they do it is quite serious. They are the only non-human animals known to carry Hansen’s disease (aka: Leprosy).
What can you do about armadillos?
If you have a large, natural property, you are best off coexisting. Armadillos are fairly harmless, and they can be beneficial. If you have a carefully landscaped yard, you may find armadillos quite bothersome. To prevent having them come into the yard to wreak havoc on your flowerbeds and pathways, you may wish to surround your yard with a sunken fence that will prevent them being able to dig in. You should also know that armadillos have a very strong sense of smell, so some scents can be very effective in repelling them.
How to trap and remove armadillos
As with most wild animal removal, it is best if you call in a professional to humanely trap and relocate armadillos. Even though they are fairly harmless, you could potentially be injured or contract an illness if you handle them. A certified professional will exercise all appropriate precautions to safely trap the creatures and take them far enough away to prevent their return.
Contact Buzz Away armadillo removal service.
