About Armadillo Repellent

While many stores and websites sell armadillo repellent products in a whole range of forms, the real questions lies a bit beyond the advertising. Do these products really work? Let's take a look at what these supposed armadillo repellents are, and whether or not they actually meet the claims their advertisers make. In addition, we'll see exactly how one can rid a yard and garden from these pesky armadillos using some methods safe to both humans, the environment and, of course, the armadillos.

History

The nine-banded armadillo is the only species of armadillo residing in the United States. Found predominately in Texas, they are known to have traveled as far north as Nebraska, and may be found in eastern states like Florida and South Carolina.
Armadillos are known to be diggers, and love digging for grubs, as well as digging dens as habitats. They are pesky creatures when invading yards and gardens, as they aren't particularly discerning about when and where they dig.

Misconceptions

There are numerous stores and online businesses making claims about products said to be armadillo repellents. From sprays and powders to electronic devices that fend armadillos off using high-pitched sounds or sonic waves, their successes are touted repeatedly. Many products contain moth-ball flakes, and a few contain castor oil. Some claim that predator urine sprinkled (as part of their product's chemistry) on lawns and gardens will scare armadillos away. Some say that the electronically produced piercing sounds will repel them. But according to wildlife experts in the state of Florida, these claims quite simply are not true; with the rare exception of the castor oil, which would ultimately foul the taste of the dirt and grubs. However, such an enormous amount of castor oil would be needed, and for such an extensive length of time, that it simply wouldn't be feasible and could cause additional problems for the homeowners.

Considerations

A representative from the Professional Wildlife Removal and Animal Pest Control serving Orlando, Florida, says, "I have even been to homes in which people have gone so far as to dump a whole 5-lb. box of mothballs down an armadillo hole or pour a whole gallon of bleach down there, and the armadillos don't care in the slightest!"
That said, it seems like a waste of money to purchase products claiming to do what wildlife experts claim cannot safely and sensibly be done, without causing harm to people, the land or the armadillos.

Prevention/Solution

The only true solution is to trap and remove the animals. They are fairly easy to trap, and once removed from a location tend to set up roots elsewhere, typically not returning to the area from where they've been removed.
Hardware stores and feed and supply stores in the regions inhabited by armadillos sell traps made specifically for this purpose. Wildlife experts suggest releasing the trapped armadillos at least 10 miles from an infested property.

Time Frame

It will certainly take a few trips, and possibly multiple traps to capture all the armadillos invading a property or garden area. This is because armadillos don't tend to travel solo. The large burrows they dig house multiple family members, and they tend to wander freely for quite a distance, and to head off on numerous solo adventures. Even if a burrow is set up with traps, it doesn't guarantee complete success, as members of a specific burrow may be out wandering when a catch takes place.

Warning

While armadillos are pests with regard to gardens and the unsightly mess they create by digging up lawns, they do create a danger of sorts that many people aren't aware of. The extensive burrows the armadillos dig often wind underneath concrete steps and home foundations or slabs. This can put pressure on aging structures and ultimately wind up cracking or caving in some of them. Even if the mess they create isn't frowned upon by homeowners, it is still advised to remove the armadillos from the property.

Prevention/Solution

Don't fall prey to claims made by sellers or manufacturers of armadillo repellent. While some of the more natural methods like predator urine may appear to work temporarily, and won't harm man or beast, they aren't by any means a permanent solution to the problem of armadillo invasion.

Resources

• Armadillos