Donald W. Hawthorne Associate Deputy Administrator USDA-APHIS- ARMADILLOS Animal Damage Control Washington, DC 20090-6464

Fig. 1. Armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus

Identification Damage Prevention and Fumigants The armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is Control Methods None are registered. a rather interesting and unusual animal Exclusion Trapping that has a protective armor of “horny” material on its head, body, and tail. Fences or barriers are generally not Live traps (box traps). This bony armor has nine movable practical, but a possible option. Leghold traps (size No. 1 or 2). rings between the shoulder and hip Cultural Methods shield. The head is small with a long, Conibear® 220. narrow, piglike snout. Canine and inci- Clear brush and other cover to reduce Shooting sor teeth are absent. The peglike cheek habitat. One of the most commonly used teeth range in number from seven to Repellents methods. nine on each side of the upper and lower jaw. The long tapering tail is en- None are registered. Other Methods cased in 12 bony rings. The track usu- Toxicants Soil insecticides that remove food ally appears to be three-toed and shows sharp claw marks. The arma- None are registered. sources will discourage armadillos from feeding in an area. dillo is about the size of an opossum, weighing from 8 to 17 pounds (3.5 to 8 kg).

PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF WILDLIFE DAMAGE — 1994 Cooperative Extension Division Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Nebraska - Lincoln United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Animal Damage Control D-1 Great Plains Agricultural Council Wildlife Committee Range General Biology, There is evidence that armadillos may Reproduction, and be responsible for the loss of domestic The armadillo ranges from south Texas poultry eggs. This loss can be pre- to the southeastern tip of New Mexico, Behavior vented through proper housing or through Oklahoma, the southeastern fencing of nesting birds. corner of Kansas and the southwestern The armadillo is active primarily from corner of Missouri, most of Arkansas, twilight through early morning hours Disease is a factor associated with this and southwestern Mississippi. The in the summer. In winter it may be species. Armadillos can be infected by range also includes southern Alabama, active only during the day. The arma- the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, the Georgia, and most of Florida (Fig. 2). dillo usually digs a burrow 7 or 8 causative agent of leprosy. The role inches (18 or 20 cm) in diameter and up that armadillos have in human infec- to 15 feet (4.5 m) in length for shelter tion, however, has not yet been deter- and raising young. Burrows are located mined. They may pose a potential risk in rock piles, around stumps, brush for humans, particularly in the Gulf piles, or terraces around brush or dense Coast region. woodlands. Armadillos often have sev- eral dens in an area to use for escape. Legal Status The young are born in a nest within the Armadillos are unprotected in most burrow. The female produces only one states. litter each year in March or April after a 150-day gestation period. The litter always consists of quadruplets of the Damage Prevention and same sex. The young are identical since Control Methods they are derived from a single egg. Exclusion The armadillo has poor eyesight, but a keen sense of smell. In spite of its cum- Armadillos have the ability to climb Fig. 2. Range of the armadillo in North bersome appearance, the agile arma- and burrow. Fencing or barriers, how- America. dillo can run well when in danger. It is ever, may exclude armadillos under Habitat a good swimmer and is also able to certain conditions. A fence slanted out- walk across the bottom of small ward at a 40o angle, with a portion bur- The armadillo prefers dense, shady streams. ied, can be effective. The cost of cover such as brush, woodlands, for- exclusion should be compared to other ests, and areas adjacent to creeks and Damage and Damage forms of control and the value of the re- rivers. Soil texture is also a factor in the Identification sources being protected. animal’s habitat selection. It prefers Cultural Methods sandy or loam soils that are loose and Most armadillo damage occurs as a porous. The armadillo will also inhabit Armadillos prefer to have their bur- result of their rooting in lawns, golf areas having cracks, crevices, and rocks rows in areas that have cover, so the re- courses, vegetable gardens, and flower that are suitable for burrows. moval of brush or other such cover will beds. Characteristic signs of armadillo discourage them from becoming estab- activity are shallow holes, 1 to 3 inches lished. Food Habits (2.5 to 7.6 cm) deep and 3 to 5 inches (7.6 to 12.7 cm) wide, which are dug in Repellents More than 90% of the armadillo’s diet search of food. They also uproot flow- is made up of insects and their larvae. None are currently registered or ers and other ornamental plants. Some Armadillos also feed on earthworms, known to be effective. damage has been caused by their bur- scorpions, spiders, and other inverte- rowing under foundations, driveways, Toxicants brates. There is evidence that the spe- and other structures. Some people cies will eat some fruit and vegetable None are currently registered. complain that armadillos keep them matter such as berries and tender roots awake at night by rubbing their shells Fumigants in leaf mold, as well as maggots and against their houses or other structures. pupae in carrion. Vertebrates are eaten None are currently registered; how- to a lesser extent, including skinks, liz- ever, there are some that are effective. ards, small frogs, and snakes, as well as Since state pesticide registrations vary, the eggs of these animals. check with your local extension office

D-2 or state wildlife agency for information on pesticides that are legal in your area. Trapping Armadillos can be captured in 10 x 12 x 32-inch (25 x 30.5 x 81-cm) live or box traps, such as Havahart, Tomahawk, or homemade types. The best locations to set traps are along pathways to armadillo burrows and along fences or other barriers where the animals may travel. The best trap is the type that can be opened at both ends. Its effectiveness can be enhanced by using “wings” of 1 x 4-inch (2.5 x 10-cm) or 1 x 6-inch (2.5 x 15-cm) boards about 6 feet (1.8 m) long to funnel the target animal into the trap (Fig. 3). This set does not need Fig. 3. Cage traps for armadillos are more effec- baiting. If bait is desired, use overripe tive when “wings” are added to direct the ar- madillo into the trap. or spoiled fruit. Other suggested baits are fetid meats or mealworms. Other traps that may be used are leghold (No. 1 or 2) or size 220 Conibear® traps. These types should Other Methods For Additional be placed at the entrance of a burrow to Since most of the damage armadillos Information improve selectivity. Care should be cause is a result of their rooting for in- taken when placing leghold traps to sects and other invertebrates in the soil, Burt, W. H., and R. P. Grossenheider. 1976. A avoid areas used by nontarget animals. soil insecticides may be used to remove field guide to the mammals, 3d ed. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. 289 pp. Shooting this food source and make areas less at- tractive to armadillos. Chamberlain, P. A. 1980. Armadillos: problems Shooting is an effective and selective and control. Proc. Vertebr. Pest Conf. 9:163- method. The best time to shoot is dur- Economics of Damage 169. ing twilight hours or at night by spot- Galbreath, G. J. 1982. Armadillo. Pages 71-79 in light when armadillos are active. A and Control J. A. Chapman and G. A. Feldhamer, eds. Wild mammals of North America: biology, shotgun (No. 4 to BB-size shot) or rifle There are few studies available on the (.22 or other small caliber) can be used. management and economics. The Johns damage caused by armadillos. The Hopkins Univ. Press, Baltimore. Good judgment must be used in deter- damage they do is localized and is usu- mining where it is safe to shoot. Check Humphrey, S. R. 1974. Zoogeography of the ally more of a nuisance than an eco- nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus local laws and ordinances before using nomic loss. novemcinctus) in the United States. BioSc. shooting as a control method. 24:457-462. Acknowledgments McBee, K., and R. J. Baker. 1982. Dasypus novemcinctus. Mammal. Sp. 162:1-9. Figure 1 from Schwartz and Schwartz (1981), adapted by Emily Oseas Routman. Figure 2 adapted from Burt and Grossenheider Editors (1976) by Jill Sack Johnson. Scott E. Hygnstrom Robert M. Timm Figure 3 by Jill Sack Johnson. Gary E. Larson

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