Anyone Please have advice on trapping an Armadillo?

[Southern Gardener]

We have a lot of them around here and they creep me out. I've never had one in my garden, thank goodness. I agree with hoodat, you probably would have to shoot them.

 

[renovationmom]

It's going to be difficult to live trap an armadillo. Most of their food is grubs dug up from the ground. They are little armored tanks and can walk right through many barriers that would stop most animals (or dig under them). They can dig into the ground faster than you can with a shovel so you can't dig them out.
The only sollution I know of is to shoot them. A pellet gun won't do the job. You need at least a 22.
A few people have mastered the art of sneaking up behind them and grabbing them by the tail. I've seen kids do that in Oklahoma. They don't see well to the rear so if you move slowly and quietly it can be done. If you get them in the open they can also be run down. They can't move fast for any but short distances. If they reach cover they will immediately dig in. You won't believe how fast they can disappear into the ground.

I do not want to hurt the little guy. I have a seperate 6 acre property, 65 miles away, with nothing but trees and hay, no flower or veggie gardens. Has a water well, and "The Llama, Jerry Seinfield", who will eat plastic plants, and stands in the water trough, to keep him company. This is where I relocate all the wild critters who cause problems for my gardens and chickens. There is a huge compost pile he can dig in too. Now if I can just catch him! Thank you for the advice. I will have to stay up one of these nights, and see where he travels. My house is built at the base of a hillside, covered in cedar, no telling where up there he has his den. Thanks again!

 

[renovationmom]

We have a lot of them around here and they creep me out. I've never had one in my garden, thank goodness. I agree with hoodat, you probably would have to shoot them.

He certainly is doing some damage. All my mulch is getting thrown out on the lawn, plants dug up, seeds distrubed, holes dug all over the lawn. It looks like a few hundred land mines went off. I just want to try first and see if I can catch him alive.

 

[renovationmom]

I have sent BoggyB this question in an email.

Are there armadillos in Alabama? Anyway, and if I remember right, Boggy will trap critters that invade his property.

Personally regarding this question, I haven't a clue.

Steve

Thank you for your help.

 

[renovationmom]

Armadillos are incredibly smart from what I remember from watching Jack Hannahs Animal Kingdom!

Honestly I haven't a clue... but.. I hope you can get him (or her) trapped safely!

Thanks, I am going to give it a good try, I do not want to hurt him, if at all possiable.

 

[renovationmom]

That is an interesting question. I've never done it but did some research on it. I'll copy a couple of links. No bait works. A not-baited trap was just as effective as a baited trap.

Do you know where it has its den? Do you know a route it takes to get to your garden? If you can set up directional barriers, you can maybe guide it into your trap. Think of placing two planks spread out to create a funnel that leads it into your trap. Placing it along a fence or wall can help. The Georgia link has a sketch. This is supposed to be a way to get groundhogs too.

Florida Wildlife

http://www.247wildlife.com/armadillotrap.htm

Georgia Trapping Study

http://warnell.forestry.uga.edu/service/library/for05-003/for05-003.pdf

I don't know what the laws are in Texas. Release may be against the law. You might want to check.

Thank You, these links will help!

 

[renovationmom]

I was born in San Antonio and also lived in Amarillo. I love armadillos, but then I was a child during those stints in TX.

I have a concrete armadillo in my garden. He pretty much obeys all my commands, doesn't root around for veggies or grubs, and is nice to the dogs, cats and other critters.

I may have to borrow your concrete critter, maybe that would get him in the trap.

 

[wsmoak]

They are reportedly *very* hard to trap, since there's really nothing you can bait the trap with that will entice them into it.

I read one website that explained the only way to trap them is to figure out what paths they normally take, and build short walls that guide them where you want them to go, eventually into a dead end (the trap).

Please be careful handing it if you do catch it -- they can carry leprosy. http://news.discovery.com/human/arm...y-cases-in-southern-united-states-110427.html

-Wendy

 

[renovationmom]

They are reportedly *very* hard to trap, since there's really nothing you can bait the trap with that will entice them into it.

I read one website that explained the only way to trap them is to figure out what paths they normally take, and build short walls that guide them where you want them to go, eventually into a dead end (the trap).

Please be careful handing it if you do catch it -- they can carry leprosy. http://news.discovery.com/human/arm...y-cases-in-southern-united-states-110427.html

-Wendy

Thank you for your help. It is starting to sound like shooting it may be my only option

Just read your link, very scary. I have been replacing the soil, mulch and plants dug up in the area the armadillo has been digging up by hand! I will be wearing gloves and using a hoe from now on.:/

 

[digitS']

Thank you for your help. It is starting to sound like shooting it may be my only option . . .

Here is what BoggyB had to say in an email: "Since 'dillos aren't, dependable, creatures of habit (mostly, extremely, near-sighted wanderes) it's REALLY hard to "pin" them down to trap. Most everyone deals with the problem, around here, in two ways........"big" gun or BIGGER dog(s). LOL. Hope this helps."

Sounds like another vote for the lead pill remedy . . .

Steve