Our New Neighbors

“What was the that?” You might exclaim, when you see a ’possum-sized, scaly-looking creature shoot across a Missouri highway.

“What happened here?” You might wonder when you wake one morning and find your lawn transformed into a series of holes and dirt piles.

Although many of our wild creatures have a long history in Missouri, armadillos have only recently arrived. They’re here because they find parts of our state suitable for living, and they’re not likely to leave. If we’re going to host these new neighbors, we’d better learn as much about them as we can.

Identification

Nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) are unique and interesting critters. The animals weigh from 2 to 20 pounds, have short legs, big ears and a ringed tail almost as long as their body.

They get their name from a hard protective covering that contains usually nine moveable bands between the shoulder and hip shields.

Their head is covered with a large immovable shield, and their tail is covered with a series of 12 overlapping rings. Small scales cover their legs, and only their ears and underbelly have exposed soft skin.

Armadillos have four stout claws on their front feet and five on the hind feet. Hairs protrude from their scaly armor and sparsely cover their belly.

Range

The armadillo’s general lack of hair combined with its low body fat content make it ill-equipped to handle extended periods of severely cold weather, which may limit the northward range of the species.

Armadillos can be found from Texas, along the southern tier states to Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and northward into Arkansas, Oklahoma and southern Kansas. Confirmed sightings have come from as far north as southern Illinois and Indiana.

Armadillos first began to appear in the south and southwest portions of Missouri in the mid-1970s to early 1980s. Since then, they have extended northward into practically every county south of the Missouri River, and there have been a few sightings north of the river.

Habits and Reproduction

In the summer, armadillos are most active from twilight through the early morning hours. In winter they are only active during the day when temperatures rise.

They may have several burrows within their territory for protection and raising young. These burrows are usually 7 or 8 inches in diameter and up to 15 feet long. They can be found in rock piles, brush piles, around stumps or under sidewalks and patios.

Breeding generally occurs in the summer, but pregnancy is delayed for about five months, followed by a 150-day gestation period. Genetically identical quadruplets are born in the spring and will start to emerge from the den in early summer. By fall the quadruplets have usually dispersed.

Food

Armadillos eat earthworms, spiders, scorpions and other invertebrates, but 90 percent of their diet is made up of insects and their larvae. One armadillo can eat about 200 pounds of insects per year. Their diet may be another limiting factor in the northward expansion of their range. Armadillos get most of their food underground. When the ground is frozen or becomes covered in snow and ice, their food sources are limited.

Digging Damage

Generally speaking, armadillos are harmless, but their digging and rooting often causes problems. Most folks are somewhat baffled after waking up and finding their yards covered with random pock marks.

Skunks can cause similar unsightly damage, but armadillo digs are usually larger, measuring 1 to 3 inches deep and 4 to 5 inches across, and much more frequent and extensive. The holes may have dirt thrown out or v-shaped pieces of sod may be peeled back. You might even see the cavity that once contained a grub or insect by looking closely in the hole.

Control Methods

When dealing with wildlife damage from armadillos, property owners have several options. A Conservation Department wildlife damage biologist can help determine to what extent control is needed and the most practical methods.

Removing habitat that could attract armadillos might prevent them from turning up on your property. Keeping lawns and adjacent areas free from brush, wood piles and other places of refuge will help discourage armadillos from taking up residence. Because moist soil and green grass attracts armadillos, reducing watering and fertilization might also help discourage them from digging up your yard.

Armadillos are easily discouraged by barriers. In smaller areas, such as flower beds or gardens, constructing a fence might solve the problem. Because armadillos can dig and climb, fences should be constructed of sturdy material at least 24 inches high with 8 to 12 inches buried underground.

The fence should be built outward at an angle, or the top of the fence should come out at a right angle to prevent armadillos from going over. A single-strand electric fence set 3 to 4 inches off the ground might also be effective.

Although there are some repellents that claim to be effective against armadillos, their effectiveness has not been substantiated. Some fumigants, such as gas cartridges, can be effective when used in den locations. None, however, are currently registered for use in controlling armadillos.

Trapping

The armadillo’s nocturnal behavior and general lack of interest in baited traps makes trapping them challenging.

Cage-type live traps, however, often work well. The traps should be at least 10-by-12-by-32 inches. Place them along pathways leading to burrows or along fences or other barriers.

You can enhance a trap’s effectiveness by using “wings” of 1-by-4 or 1-by-6 inch boards at least 6 feet long to help funnel the armadillo into the opening. Overripe fruits, earthworms or mealworms can be suspended in a nylon sack in the trap to help attract the animals inside.

Shooting

Rule 4.130 of the Wildlife Code allows landowners to use lethal methods to control nuisance wildlife causing damage. Shooting, where allowed by local statutes, is effective in selectively controlling armadillos.

The best time to shoot is when armadillos are most active, either during twilight hours or at night by using a spotlight or yard lights. A shotgun with No. 4 to BB shot or a .22 or other small caliber rifle will do the job. Use good judgement and always be sure you have a safe shot.

Shooting should be a method of last resort, however. As armadillo numbers increase and as our numbers increase we’re bound to have a few conflicts, but we can get along. It’s usually the case when wildlife and people share space that good fences make good neighbors. When it comes to armadillos, an ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure.

Armadillo Facts

• Armadillo is Spanish for “little armored one.”
• During the Great Depression, armadillos were known as “Hoover Hogs” because they were eaten instead of the “chicken in every pot” that Hoover had promised.
• Armadillos can contract and carry leprosy (Hansen’s Disease). However, the only known way they can transfer this disease is when humans eat undercooked armadillo meat.
• Armadillos often end up as road kill because they have a habit of jumping when startled. This is not the best defensive tactic when you’re underneath a moving vehicle.