LIVE ANIMAL TRAPPING OF THE ARMADILLO

This article is for controlling nuisance armadillos, why they are attracted to your yard and proper methods of live animal trapping for them. Armadillos can become a nuisance in your lawn and garden in their constant search for their favorite food source, worms, insect larvae, pupae and other soil insects.

Armadillos are 15-20 inches long, about 8 lbs and gestation period is 150 days. They can have 4 young in a litter and have 1 litter a year. Main food source is insects and other invertebrates, small reptiles and frongs, and fruit.

Armadillos find nesting in rock piles and around trees or shrubs and under slabs ideal. Their burrows are usually15 to 25 feet long and cause extreme damage to tree roots.

The armadillo is fond of rooting and digging in leaf mold and other rich humus material containing high concentrations of insects. They can cause root damage to shrubs and trees by digging.

Indirect control of the armadillo has been proven effective by eliminating as much of their food source by using a turf insecticide. When they are a constant problem in your garden then exclusion may be deemed necessary and is effective when done correctly.

Armadillo trapping may be difficult and many different factors go into the placement of the live animal trap what direction it will be traveling, and most of all, its behavior and reaction to a trap. The right sized trap must be used - preferably a large cage trap meant for raccoons and other large animals. Armadillos can be very tough and strong aniamls so the trap must be sturdy. The armadillo will not enter a trap for any kind of food and you will be more successful at trapping when you are forcing the animal in the trap. They will typically be walking along edges around their burrow.

Armadillos can be trapped in live animal traps, such as a Havahart Animal trap, size recommended is 24”x8”x7”, wire cage. Animal trap should be placed near the entrance to the den, burrows, or on trails next to fences and buildings. The Havahart trap can be made more effective by using two long boards on edge to form a funnel that herds the armadillo inside the animal trap. Set the trap along their path and use directional barriers - planks of wood, fences, concrete blocks, that will funnel the poor-sighted armadillo into the trap.

You may want to have the trap floor lined with nice inviting dirt to make it even more attractive.

Havahart animal trap can be baited with rotten fruit, such as pears, bananas and apples. Some people find that a small amount of ground meat or an egg is effective in some situations. Trapping can be a look and learn procedure, not all recommendations work for ever situation.

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