Armadillos digging my yard

[hbaird]

My new yard, seeded the end of May, is being torn up by armadillos. They are only out at night so shooting them is out. Has anyone had any success trapping them? I don't care to try poison. Any suggestions.
Harold

 

[Junkman]

I believe that they eat grubs...... that might be the reason they are tearing it up. There are lawn chemicals that eliminate grubs, such as Grub-X.

 

[EastTexFrank]

Mine too. I almost got the little booger a few nights ago but he was right next to the house and couldn't get a safe shot. I also found that balancing the flashlight and holding the shot gun is no easy task. I tried to herd him slowly away from the house so I could get a shot but I spooked him and he took off. Those little fat boys can move pretty fast when they want to. Anyway, the hunt continues.

I don't know if trapping is an option. I've never heard of anyone doing it around here. Junk is right, they eats bugs and grubs, so removing the food source might cause them to move on. Personally, all I want to do is arrange for it, me, the shotgun and flashlight all the be at the same place at the same time.

 

[FL_Cracker]

They are blind as a bat, but they can hear good. You can sneak up behind them and grab the tail. They do bite so keep them moving in a circle until they hit the trash can you have ready to hold them.

Happy hunting.......

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[Bird]

As you know, I'm now living in a mobile home park, and when we were moving in two years ago, I noticed an armadillo in a live trap just outside the office door; didn't ask how they caught it or what they used for bait. But my wife said we had one in our yard yesterday in the middle of the day.

 

[PineRidge]

<font color="blue"> I don't know if trapping is an option. I've never heard of anyone doing it around here. Junk is right, they eats bugs and grubs, so removing the food source might cause them to move on. Personally, all I want to do is arrange for it, me, the shotgun and flashlight all the be at the same place at the same time.
</font>

If it were me I might try using a short piece of duct tape to fasten the flashlight to the barrel of the shotgun for a illuminated shot. Just please don't look down the barrel to turn it on. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[DannyD]

Illegal in some areas, not sure about yours. Get caught doing that during deer season here and spend the next 5 of them behind bars.

I know this is not "game", just a thought

 

[fishman]

I have the same problem and can sympathize with you. They do a LOT of damage. I used to think they were cool little critters until they turned portions of my nice bermuda grass lawn into a moonscape. I haven't found any other way to take care of the problem except a good flashlight (Surefire is my choice) and a gun. I've found that a 22 hollowpoint is best. I've had poor luck with a shotgun using #4 steel at close range. One got away and the other took two shots. Their armor is pretty tough. If I were going to use a shotgun, I'd probably go with #2 lead, or perhaps one of the widely-available waterfowl loads using heavy-shot, tungsten, or bismuth.

 

[jinman]

You can trap the little "roto-tillers" but you have to consider just how stupid they are to be able to catch them. You build a chute into the trap with 2x6s laid up on the edge so it forms a corral to herd them into the trap. You can also successfully keep them away from flower beds or trees by using a heavy dusting of cayenne pepper. If they get their snoot full of that, they won't come back for awhile.

When it gets dry, they choose to dig in lawns because the ground is dry and hard in other places. I've found the only sure ways to keep them out are to trap them or have them die of "lead poisoning." /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Bird]

Have you ever seen what they can do to the greens on a golf course? Not a pretty sight.