With its scaly armor, pointy ears, extended snout, and curved claws, the armadillo is undoubtedly odd-looking. Belonging to the same group of mammals as sloths and anteaters, armadillos are ravenous insectivores that consume large numbers of beetles, grubs, ants, termites, and other insects, getting them with their sticky tongues. Occasionally, they likewise eat small amphibians, reptiles, and their eggs.
When they’re foraging for supper, armadillos can trigger substantial damage to yards, gardens, and flower beds. “They have bad vision but an effective sense of smell that they depend on to discover food,” says Wesley Anderson, PhD, assistant teacher at Auburn University and wildlife extension professional at the Alabama Coop Extension System. “Their burrows also can be a problem if they’re weakening a house or shed foundation.”
Armadillos are discovered throughout the Southeast however in fact have actually broadened their range over the last few years. “We see them moving into locations such as southern Illinois,” says Robert Pierce, PhD, associate professor and state extension fisheries and wildlife specialist at the University of Missouri. “But they do not endure freezing temperature levels, and their food supply is limited in winter season so they have not yet moved any further north.”
Surprisingly, a new research study has actually revealed that the nine-banded armadillo, which is what armadillos in the U.S. have long been called, is in fact a different species. The types of armadillo discovered in the U.S. has a brand-new name: the Mexican long-nosed armadillo.
How To Get Rid Of Armadillos
There are no warranties, however you can attempt a few of these strategies to avoid armadillos from digging up your yard and garden:
ID the offender. Skunk damage can look comparable to armadillo digging; established a game webcam if you’re not exactly sure what’s doing the damage, states Anderson.
Block entry under decks, sheds and houses. Attaching hardware cloth is typically adequate to hinder armadillos from digging around under structures, states Dykes.
Use a fence to keep them out of specific locations. They can climb up, but they’re not as good as other garden visitors, such as groundhogs, states Anderson. Set up a fence that’s inclined outside and about 3 feet high with a brief area buried underground. A single hair of electrified wire fencing (it’s enough to dissuade them however not injure them) is another good alternative.
Consider a raised bed garden. Armadillos might be less likely to dig in beds if they need to climb up to enter into them, says Dykes.
Get rid of brush stacks, which may discourage them from hanging around to forage, states Pierce.
Consider using grub control products on your lawn. This might minimize the quantity of foraging, though it’s not sure-fire, says Dykes. Contact your local university coop extension service (find yours here) to find out the correct time to apply grub control your area.
Forget about utilizing repellants, soap, or sonic devices to keep armadillos away. There’s no science revealing these are effective deterrents, states Pierce.
For pesky armadillos, you might require to hire a problem wildlife professional for elimination, says Anderson.
Understanding Armadillos
Regardless of what they’re called, most people know exactly what an armadillo appears like, with its roly-poly armored kind and unusual shuffling walk. They’re about the size of a cat, weighing about 8 to 15 pounds and about 15 to 17 inches long, plus tail, states Dykes.
While foraging for food, armadillos seem unconcerned to anything else, permitting you to get very close before they end up being alarmed. They can run well when essential and are excellent swimmers. “But, when surprised, they jump into the air, which reduces their opportunities of enduring an encounter with a lorry,” says Pierce.
Armadillo burrows are typically discovered in forested locations and may be 8 to 10 feet deep and 15 feet long, with numerous burrows available for escape functions. Damage in your yard or garden are typically lots of shallow holes a couple of inches deep, states Dykes. You also might see three-toed tracks with claw marks.
Armadillos are nighttime, though they might move around throughout the day in cooler temperature levels.
A remarkable aside is that they always bring to life four identical babies, all of the very same sex, states Anderson.
Do Armadillos Carry Disease?
Armadillos can carry rabies (though hardly ever) and the germs Mycobacterium leprae which triggers leprosy, also called Hansen’s illness. “There are a handful of cases every year of individuals in the U.S. being affected by Hansen’s disease, however the path of transmission is not well comprehended,” says Anderson. “One theory is that polluted soil is accountable for both armadillos and human beings contracting the infection.”
Some research study indicates up to 20 percent of armadillos are contaminated in some areas, a lot of specialists think the risk of contracting Hansen’s illness from armadillos is low. The disease also can be dealt with effectively with prescription antibiotics.
