As spring approaches, homeowners and property managers should be aware of the potential damage caused by armadillos. These nocturnal creatures, known for their armored shells and burrowing habits, can wreak havoc on lawns, gardens, and even structural foundations. If you’ve noticed signs of armadillo activity on your property, it’s crucial to address the issue before spring arrives. In this blog post, we’ll explore why trapping and removing armadillos before the season changes is essential for maintaining a healthy and damage-free environment.
Understanding Armadillo Behavior
Armadillos are primarily nocturnal and prefer warm, humid climates. They are prolific diggers, using their sharp claws to create burrows for shelter and foraging for food. Their diet consists mainly of insects, grubs, and other small invertebrates, which they locate by digging through soil and mulch. While they may seem harmless, their burrowing and feeding habits can lead to extensive property damage over time.
Spring is a critical time for armadillos because it marks the beginning of their peak activity period. As temperatures rise, they become more active in search of food and mates. This increased activity can result in more digging, larger burrows, and greater structural damage. Removing them before spring can help prevent these issues from escalating.
The Dangers of Armadillo Burrowing
One of the most significant concerns with armadillos is their burrowing behavior. They dig deep tunnels and create multiple burrows throughout their territory, often beneath structures such as homes, driveways, sidewalks, and decks. These burrows can weaken the integrity of foundations and cause costly structural issues.
Damage to Lawns and Gardens
Armadillos’ constant digging leaves behind unsightly holes and uproots grass, plants, and flowers. If you have a well-maintained garden, armadillos can quickly destroy it by searching for food beneath the soil. Their burrowing can also disrupt irrigation systems, leading to further landscaping problems.
Structural Damage
If an armadillo burrows under your home, it can cause serious issues over time. Their tunnels can undermine foundations, leading to cracks and instability. This is especially problematic in areas with sandy or loose soil, where structural damage can occur more rapidly. Additionally, their burrows may attract other pests, such as snakes or rodents, creating an even larger problem.
Why Removing Armadillos Before Spring Matters
Since armadillos are most active in spring and summer, removing them before this period can prevent extensive damage. Here’s why early removal is key:
1. Prevent Mating and Population Growth
Armadillos typically breed in early spring, with females giving birth to litters of identical quadruplets later in the season. If you remove armadillos before mating season, you reduce the risk of a growing population on your property. Once babies are born, trapping becomes more complicated, as the young rely on their mother for survival.
2. Minimize Property Damage
By eliminating armadillos before they become more active, you can prevent their burrowing and feeding habits from damaging your lawn, garden, and structures. Taking action early saves time, money, and effort in repairing damage later on.
3. Reduce the Spread of Disease
Armadillos are known carriers of diseases, including leprosy. While transmission to humans is rare, handling an infected armadillo or coming into contact with contaminated soil poses potential health risks. Additionally, their burrows may harbor other pests, such as fleas and ticks, which can spread disease to pets and humans.
4. Protect Your Home’s Foundation
Allowing armadillos to burrow under your home or other structures increases the likelihood of costly foundation damage. Addressing the issue before spring prevents them from establishing deeper tunnels and causing significant structural instability.
Effective Methods for Armadillo Removal
If you suspect an armadillo problem on your property, professional wildlife trapping is the most effective and humane solution. Here are some steps to consider:
1. Identify Activity
Look for signs of armadillo presence, such as holes in your yard, overturned soil, or visible burrow entrances near foundations, sidewalks, or decks.
2. Set Humane Traps
Live trapping is the safest and most ethical method of removal. Professional wildlife trappers use baited, properly sized cages to capture armadillos without causing them harm. Once captured, they are relocated to a suitable habitat away from residential areas.
3. Secure Your Property
After removal, it’s crucial to take preventative measures to keep armadillos from returning. This may include:
• Installing fencing that extends below ground to prevent burrowing.
• Reducing food sources by controlling insect populations.
• Filling in old burrows with dirt and compacting the soil.
4. Seek Professional Assistance
Armadillos can be tricky to trap due to their unpredictable behavior. A professional wildlife removal service, like Affordable Wildlife Services LLC., ensures safe and effective removal while following local regulations. Experts can assess your property, determine the best trapping method, and implement preventative measures to keep armadillos from coming back.
Conclusion
Spring is the season when armadillos become most active, making early removal essential for preventing extensive damage to your property. Their burrowing habits can cause structural instability, ruin lawns and gardens, and even pose health risks. By taking action before spring arrives, you can minimize these risks and maintain a safe, well-maintained environment.
If you suspect armadillos are causing problems on your property, don’t wait until the damage is severe. Contact Affordable Wildlife Services LLC. today for professional, humane, and effective armadillo trapping services. We’re here to help protect your home, yard, and foundation from these destructive pests.
Servicing Manatee, Sarasota and Southern Hillsborough Counties including the communities of Parrish, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Bradenton and Sun City Center.
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