To stick with the “pests around the landscape” theme, this article will cover Armadillos and the best way to control this critter.
To best control a pest is to have knowledge about the pest. Scientists classify armadillos with anteaters and sloths. 20 species are recognized throughout Central and South America including the giant armadillo, which can weigh up to 130 pounds. Only one species lives in Georgia and that is the nine-banded armadillo. Long claws make them proficient diggers, which cause the visible damage we see many times in the lawn. Armadillos breed between June and August, and offspring are born in March or April. This means there is a lot of activity with armadillos this time of year, meaning an increase in damage to the landscape.
Mike Mengak, Certified Wildlife Biologist and UGA Extension Wildlife Outreach Coordinator has received several calls about Armadillos this past week and these are some of his thoughts.
“There are no repellents or poisons registered for armadillo. Armadillo are not protected in Georgia – they are legal to hunt or shoot at any time unless it is illegal in your city or county, or prohibited by local ordinance. This is generally not a viable option in urban areas. You are responsible for following all local laws and ordinances. For trapping, use a wood box trap. Traps that have previously caught an armadillo are more likely to catch another one. However, there is no bait or lure that will work on getting an armadillo into a trap. In a study at Mississippi State in 2009, they reported that 23 armadillos were caught in wooden box traps and only 3 were caught in standard wire cage traps.”
Several publications are available.
For more information on Armadillos and other wildlife, contact our office in Springfield. If interested in detailed information, please contact me through email or phone. Contact Effingham County Extension Agent Sam Ingram at 912-754-8040 or singram@uga.edu