Armadillo Control

Armadillo Habitats and Eating Habits

These shy, small mammals use their sharp claws to dig burrows in the ground for shelter. Most varieties make their homes in flatlands or grasslands, but some find their way to forests or developed areas.

Armadillos are omnivorous, with up to 90% of their diet consisting of insects and insect larvae, but also feeding on plants including some fruits, small vertebrates, and sometimes carrion.

Armadillo Behavior and Diseases

Armadillos are usually quite timid and calm, but can display destructive behavior including damage to lawns, gardens, and other landscaped areas with their sharp claws.

During warmer months, armadillos will spend many of the daylight hours underground to avoid high temperatures. They will emerge at night to feed when the air is cooler.

Winter temperatures mean that armadillos will stay in their burrows for most of the evening, then explore above ground during the warmest parts of the day to find food.

Armadillos are found most commonly in the Southern United States—especially in Texas, but also across the Gulf Coastal states including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

It is true that armadillos can carry and spread the disease leprosy, also known as Hansen’s Disease. This infectious bacterial condition can cause skin disfiguration and nerve damage.

Rabies, a more familiar disease to most, can also be caught from armadillo contact. To avoid any chance of transmission of either of these diseases, caution should be used during any armadillo trapping or elimination practices.

If you decide to trap armadillos on your property, be sure to check local laws. Keeping an animal in captivity for any amount of time may be illegal, while trapping and relocation of animals recognized as pests may be perfectly legal.