How To Keep Armadillos Out Of Your Yard

If you’ve noticed strange holes in your flower beds and your lawn looks like it’s been lightly plowed overnight, you might have an armadillo problem. Learning how to keep armadillos out of your yard is the first step to reclaiming your green space. These armored diggers are mostly harmless, but their search for insects can leave a real mess behind.

The good news is that you can persuade them to move along without causing them harm. With a few smart changes and some persistence, you can protect your garden and enjoy a armadillo-free yard.

This approach focuses on making your property less inviting than the surrounding area. It combines removing what attracts them with adding gentle barriers that encourage them to forage elsewhere.

Why Armadillos Pick Your Yard

Armadillos aren’t being vindictive. They are simply following their stomachs. Understanding their motives is key to effective control.

Food: Their primary diet is insects and their larvae, especially grubs, ants, termites, and worms. A healthy lawn grub population is like an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Water: Shallow birdbaths, pet water dishes, or even low spots that collect rainwater can be a big draw in dry periods.
Shelter: They like dense brush, woodpiles, or the space under decks and sheds to hide and create burrows.
Soft Soil: Easy-to-dig soil in garden beds or irrigated lawns is much more appealing than hard, compacted earth.

Step 1: Remove the Free Food

This is the most critical long-term step. If you take away their food source, they will eventually go look somewhere else.

Treat for Grubs: Use a humane, biological grub control like beneficial nematodes or milky spore powder. These are safe for pets and wildlife but target the white grubs armadillos love.
Reduce Other Insects: Keep compost bins sealed and away from garden edges. Address ant hills and termite issues promptly. Avoid overwatering, as this brings earthworms and insects closer to the surface.

Step 2: Install Physical Barriers

Fences are the most reliable deterrent, but they don’t need to be fortress-like. Armadillos are poor climbers but excellent diggers.

Fencing: Use a sturdy material like chicken wire or hardware cloth. Bury at least 12-18 inches underground and angle the bottom outward to discourage digging. The above-ground part only needs to be about 2 feet tall.
Root Barriers: For protecting specific garden beds, install a solid barrier (like metal flashing) at least 18 inches deep around the perimeter.
Gates and Gaps: Pay close attention to gaps under gates or between fencing and the ground. This is a common entry point they will exploit.

Step 3: Use Repellents Strategically

Repellents can be helpful, especially as a first line of defense or in specific areas. Their effectiveness varies, so rotation is often needed.

Homemade and Natural Options

Vinegar or Cayenne Spray: A mix of vinegar and water or a cayenne pepper garlic spray can deter them. Reapply after rain.
Predator Urine: You can find commercial granules or liquids with fox or coyote scent. Apply around the yard’s perimeter.
Strong-Smelling Soaps: Drill holes in a bar of strong-scented soap (like Irish Spring) and stake it around garden beds.

Commercial Repellents

Look for repellents labeled for armadillos or general burrowing animals. Castor oil-based granules are a popular choice as they make the soil and insects taste unpleasant.

Step 4: Modify Their Habitat

Make your yard less comfortable for them to live and travel through.

Clear Brush and Debris: Remove piles of rocks, lumber, and thick undergrowth where they might hide or nest.
Secure Hideouts: Block off access to areas under porches, sheds, and decks with sturdy wire mesh buried into the ground.
Use Landscape Lighting: Armadillos prefer darkness. Motion-activated lights or solar lights along fences can make them feel exposed and vulnerable.

Step 5: Try Scare Tactics

These methods startle armadillos and can break their habit of visiting.

Motion-Activated Sprinklers: Devices like the ScareCrow spray a sudden burst of water when triggered. This is highly effective and harmless.
Wind Chimes or Radios: Unpredictable noises can help. A talk radio station left on low volume near their entry point might make them uneasy.
Pets: The presence of a dog, especially one that goes out at night, can be a significant deterrent.

What Not to Do

Always prioritize humane methods. Trapping and relocating armadillos is often illegal without a permit and can be a death sentence for the animal, who won’t know where to find food or water in a new territory. Never use poisons, as they can kill other wildlife and pets and are cruel.

When to Call a Professional

If the problem is severe or you’ve tried multiple methods without success, contact a licensed wildlife removal service. They can assess the situation, legally remove any animals if absolutely necessary, and help you proof your home to prevent future issues. Make sure they use humane practices.

FAQ: Keeping Armadillos Away

What smell do armadillos hate?
Armadillos have a keen sense of smell and dislike strong scents like vinegar, cayenne pepper, garlic, and commercial castor oil repellents. These can make areas smell unappealing to them.

Will lights keep armadillos away?
Yes, they can help. Armadillos are nocturnal and prefer dark environments. Motion-sensor lights that activate when they come into the yard can startle them and encourage them to leave.

What is the best armadillo deterrent?
There’s no single best method, but a combination is most effective. Eliminating grubs and insects (their food) paired with a low, buried fence is the most reliable long-term solution for keeping them out of your property.

Do ultrasonic repellents work on armadillos?
Evidence is mostly anecdotal. Their hearing is sensitive, but these devices often fail to work as advertised for many pests. Its generally better to invest in proven methods like fencing or motion sprinklers.

Dealing with armadillo damage can be frustrating, but patience and consistency are your best tools. Start by removing the food source and then layer on barriers or repellents. Remember, the goal is to make your neighbor’s yard a more attractive option, not to harm the animal. With these steps, you can enjoy a peaceful yard and the armadillo can continue its important role in the ecosystem—just somewhere else.