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armadillo in field

Armadillo Removal in Austin

FUN FACT

Did you know that armadillos can give birth to identical quadruplets? These litters, consisting of four genetically identical babies, all the same sex, contribute to their population growth. This fascinating reproductive trait highlights the unique biology of these armored mammals and their adaptability in various environments.

Schedule Your Armadillo RemovalCall (512) 764-5804

Identification

Armadillos, known as the “armored architects,” are primarily nocturnal creatures active at night to avoid heat and predators. The nine-banded armadillo is the most common in Texas, easily identified by its hard shell and digging behavior.

Habitat and Behavior

Armadillos thrive in Texas’s varied landscapes, from deserts to swamps. They dig for food like insects, grubs, worms, carrion, and occasionally snakes, with a particular fondness for fire ants. Their digging can leave noticeable trenches or holes in lawns.

Signs of Infestation

  • Digging Holes: Shallow trenches or holes in lawns.
  • Nighttime Noises: Snuffling or scratching sounds at night.
  • Droppings: Small, round pellets found near digging sites.

Breeding Season

Breeding occurs between September and February. After six months, females give birth to identical quadruplets, all the same sex. The young armadillos quickly become independent, contributing to the population.

Ecosystem Role

  • Natural Pest Control: They eat grubs, beetles, and insects, helping to control pest populations.
  • Seed Dispersal: Their digging helps disperse seeds, promoting plant diversity.
  • Food Source: Armadillos are prey for coyotes, foxes, and bobcats, contributing to the food chain.

Prevention Strategies

  • Exclusion: Install sturdy wire mesh fences around your property.
  • Fill Holes: Fill in armadillo holes with dirt or a soil-gravel mix.
  • Reduce Food Sources: Use natural pest control methods to reduce grub populations.
  • Spicy Deterrents: Sprinkle cayenne or crushed red pepper around gardens (with caution).
  • Professional Help: Contact Prickly Pear for expert wildlife removal.

Prickly Pear’s Approach

  1. Inspection: Identify signs of armadillo activity and potential entry points.
  2. Exclusion: Implement barriers to prevent armadillos from entering.
  3. Humane Removal: Safely and humanely remove armadillos from your property.
  4. Follow-Up: Regularly monitor and adjust strategies to keep armadillos away.

Conclusion

Armadillos, while fascinating, can be a nuisance due to their digging habits. Prickly Pear offers professional services to manage armadillo activity and protect your property. If you suspect an armadillo problem, contact us for expert assistance.

Armadillo Removal in Austin: What to Expect

Armadillo calls in Central Texas spike in late spring and again after fall rains, when the ground is soft and grubs sit close to the surface. Irrigated lawns in neighborhoods from Pflugerville to Cedar Park are easier digging than the caliche and limestone around them, so one armadillo can turn a front yard into a field of cone-shaped holes in a week.

How we handle an armadillo problem

  1. Confirm it’s an armadillo. Skunks and raccoons also dig for grubs. Armadillo holes are deeper and narrower, often 1 to 3 inches across, and we look for burrow entrances under slabs, sidewalks, sheds and AC pads.
  2. Watch the activity. A trail camera on the burrow tells us when the animal comes and goes and whether there’s more than one.
  3. Trap and remove. Armadillos don’t take bait well, so trap placement matters more than what’s inside. We set live traps along fence lines and burrow paths and use funnel boards to guide the animal in.
  4. Close the burrow and block re-entry. Once the burrow is empty we fill it and, where an armadillo has been digging under a slab or shed, install an L-shaped barrier of buried hardware cloth so the next one can’t move in.

Why a burrow under the house matters

Armadillo burrows can run several feet under a foundation, porch or sidewalk. Left alone, they wash out with rain and leave voids that settle and crack concrete. The sooner the burrow is found and closed, the less soil you lose.

Armadillo questions we hear

Will the holes stop once the armadillo is gone?

Yes, but a new armadillo can find the same yard if the grubs are still there. That’s why we pair removal with barriers at the spots they were using.

Can I just fill the holes?

Filling holes without removing the animal usually means new holes the next night. Fill them after the armadillo is out.

Do armadillos carry disease?

Armadillos in Texas can carry the bacteria that cause leprosy (Hansen’s disease). Transmission to people is rare, but it’s one more reason not to handle them.

We remove armadillos across Austin, Pflugerville, Round Rock, Hutto, Georgetown, Leander and Cedar Park.