Armadillo Removal in Citrus County, FL | Lawn & Burrow Control

Armadillo trapped in Citrus County, FL

Armadillos are some of Florida's strangest and most recognizable wildlife.

With armored bodies, oversized claws, poor eyesight, and a habit of wandering around at night with their noses buried in the ground, they're fascinating animals to encounter.

They're also capable of turning a beautiful lawn into something resembling a miniature excavation site overnight.

The nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus, is now widespread throughout most of Florida. Although they're not native to the state, they have become firmly established and are a familiar part of Florida's landscape.

Nature-Tech Wildlife Solutions provides professional armadillo removal, property inspections, burrow evaluation, and wildlife prevention services throughout Crystal River, Homosassa, Inverness, Lecanto, Beverly Hills, Hernando, Floral City, Citrus Springs, and surrounding Citrus County and Nature Coast communities.

Most armadillos don't need to be removed simply because they're present.

But when they're repeatedly excavating your yard, burrowing beneath structures, or damaging landscaping, it's time to figure out what's bringing them in and what can be done about it.

Why Are Armadillos Digging Up My Yard?

They're usually looking for dinner.

Armadillos feed heavily on insects and other invertebrates living in and beneath the soil. Using their powerful front claws and sensitive sense of smell, they probe and dig through lawns, gardens, flower beds, and landscaped areas searching for food. UF/IFAS identifies this feeding behavior as the most common source of armadillo-related property damage.

Common food sources include:

• Beetle larvae

• Grubs

• Earthworms

• Ants

• Termites

• Other soil-dwelling insects and invertebrates

The irony is that a healthy, well-watered lawn may actually be particularly attractive.

Moist soil supports more worms and insect larvae and is also easier for an armadillo to excavate. FWC and UF/IFAS both note the relationship between moist soil and armadillo activity.

So when you wake up and discover twenty freshly dug holes scattered across the grass, the armadillo isn't vandalizing your lawn out of spite.

It's grocery shopping.

Very aggressively.

What Does Armadillo Damage Look Like?

Armadillo feeding holes are usually relatively shallow.

UF/IFAS describes typical digging as approximately 1 to 3 inches deep and 3 to 5 inches wide, although damage can vary considerably depending on soil conditions and what the animal is pursuing.

Signs may include:

• Numerous cone-shaped or shallow holes throughout the lawn

• Torn-up mulch

• Disturbed flower beds

• Uprooted plants

• Soil pushed aside near foundations

• Larger burrow openings beneath structures

• Repeated digging in the same areas

If you're trying to identify whether you're dealing with an armadillo, check out our page here for more information.

Armadillo Feeding Holes vs. Armadillo Burrows

These aren't the same thing.

Feeding holes

These are relatively small excavations made while searching for food.

You may find dozens scattered across a lawn.

Burrows

Burrows are much more substantial shelters.

Armadillos typically rest underground during the day and become more active during the evening, nighttime, and early morning. UF/IFAS reports that burrow entrances are commonly around 7 to 8 inches across, and tunnels may extend up to approximately 15 feet.

Burrows may be found:

• Beneath decks

• Under porches

• Beneath manufactured homes

• Near foundations

• Under concrete patios

• Beneath brush piles

• Near stumps

• Along dense vegetation

• Under sheds

An armadillo digging occasional feeding holes is annoying.

An armadillo excavating underneath part of your house deserves substantially more attention.

Can Armadillos Damage a Foundation?

Potentially.

The animal isn't trying to eat your foundation, but repeated excavation can remove or disturb soil around structures.

UF/IFAS notes that armadillo burrows beneath patios, driveways, and structures can contribute to structural problems.

This is particularly worth watching around:

• Concrete slabs

• Porches

• Steps

• Driveways

• Sheds

• Manufactured homes

• Crawl spaces

One burrow doesn't automatically mean your home is about to sink into the earth.

But repeated excavation next to structural components isn't something I'd ignore either.

Why Are Armadillos So Difficult to Trap?

This is one of the more interesting differences between armadillos and many other nuisance animals.

A raccoon can often be attracted with food.

An armadillo is considerably less cooperative.

FWC specifically notes that armadillos can be difficult to capture using live traps.

That's partly because they're usually searching for naturally occurring soil invertebrates rather than a convenient bowl of bait.

Successful armadillo trapping often depends much more heavily on:

• Understanding travel routes

• Locating burrows

• Identifying repeated feeding areas

• Funnel placement

• Trap positioning

In other words:

Where you put the trap may matter more than what you put inside it.

Can I Just Fill in the Burrow?

Not while you're unsure whether the animal is inside.

Blocking an occupied burrow can create an unnecessary welfare issue and may simply encourage the armadillo to excavate another exit.

FWC actually recommends nonlethal harassment as one possible first step for an occupied burrow, such as placing lighting or a radio near the burrow while leaving the animal an unobstructed way to exit. The disturbance may encourage it to relocate voluntarily.

Can Armadillos Be Kept Out With Fencing?

In smaller high-value areas, yes.

FWC recommends fencing at least 2 feet high with an apron buried approximately 18 inches deep for areas experiencing significant damage.

That's generally more practical around:

• Gardens

• Small landscaping beds

• Specialty plantings

• Specific vulnerable areas

Trying to armadillo-proof an entire large Florida property could quickly turn into a fencing project worthy of a small military installation.

For broad properties, reducing attractants and dealing with the individual nuisance animal is often more practical.

Can Lawn Care Reduce Armadillo Activity?

Sometimes.

Heavy irrigation can make soil easier to dig and increase the abundance or availability of worms and insect larvae.

FWC specifically recommends avoiding unnecessary irrigation and notes that watering in the morning allows soil to dry more before nocturnal armadillos become active.

That doesn't mean you need to turn your lawn into a sand dune.

But if you're watering heavily every evening and repeatedly attracting armadillos to soft soil packed with invertebrates, adjusting irrigation may help reduce the attraction.

Other practical measures include:

• Picking up fallen fruit

• Managing insect infestations when appropriate

• Eliminating unnecessary shelter

• Securing access beneath structures

• Repairing vulnerable crawl-space openings

Are Armadillos Dangerous?

Usually, no.

Armadillos generally aren't aggressive toward people and typically prefer fleeing or digging away from threats.

Like any wild animal, however, they shouldn't be cornered or handled unnecessarily.

They're also surprisingly quick when sufficiently motivated.

The lumbering little tank routine is somewhat deceptive.

Armadillos and Leprosy

This topic deserves a calm, factual explanation rather than sensationalism.

Nine-banded armadillos can carry the bacterium associated with Hansen's disease, commonly called leprosy.

That does not mean an armadillo walking through your yard presents some immediate health emergency.

The practical takeaway is straightforward:

Don't handle wild armadillos unnecessarily.

Avoid direct contact with wild animals, especially if they're injured, sick, or behaving abnormally, and let professionals handle nuisance wildlife when intervention is necessary.

There's no reason to demonize or harm armadillos simply because this association exists.

Are Armadillos Native to Florida?

No.

This is actually a fascinating piece of Florida wildlife history.

Nine-banded armadillos expanded into Florida through both natural range expansion and human introductions during the twentieth century. UF/IFAS reports several introductions along Florida's Atlantic coast between roughly 1920 and 1970, after which populations spread and eventually connected with animals expanding into the state from the northwest.

Today they're found throughout most of Florida except portions of the Keys and some areas of South Florida wetlands.

UF/IFAS currently describes them as invasive in Florida.

Do Armadillos Provide Any Ecological Benefits?

Yes, which is another reason I wouldn't portray them as little armored villains.

Their digging disturbs soil and can alter habitat in ways that benefit other organisms. Recent UF/IFAS outreach specifically describes armadillos as ecosystem engineers, noting that their burrows may provide shelter for other wildlife.

They also consume substantial numbers of insects and other invertebrates.

That doesn't mean you need to sacrifice your St. Augustine grass to the cause.

It simply means there is a difference between:

"This species has ecological value"

and

"I would like it excavating underneath my patio."

Both things can be true.

What Happens to a Trapped Armadillo in Florida?

This is another area I'd explain accurately because Florida's rules are more restrictive than many homeowners realize.

FWC currently states that nuisance armadillos captured alive must be:

• Humanely euthanized,

• Released on the property where they were captured, or

• Released within the same county on a property of at least 40 acres, with written permission from the property owner.

FWC also cautions that wildlife relocation is often biologically unsound and relocated animals may not survive.

So the familiar idea of:

"We'll just catch him and release him in some woods somewhere..."

isn't necessarily legal or responsible wildlife management. However, Nature-Tech Wildlife Solutions LLC works closely with veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitators, and private properties throughout the area in order to provide as many humane relocation options as possible that help ensure successful relocation whenever and wherever possible.

Should Every Armadillo Be Removed?

No.

An armadillo wandering across an acreage property at night isn't automatically a nuisance animal.

FWC's broader nuisance-wildlife guidance emphasizes that wildlife merely being present should not automatically be considered nuisance wildlife. The conflict is what matters.

If an armadillo is occasionally passing through without causing meaningful damage?

Enjoy your tiny prehistoric-looking visitor.

If it's excavating your lawn every night, burrowing underneath the house, or tearing through landscaping?

Now there's a legitimate problem to solve.

Our Armadillo Removal Process

1. Inspect the Property

We look for feeding damage, burrows, travel routes, and conditions that may be attracting the animal.

2. Determine Whether Removal Is Necessary

Some armadillo conflicts may respond to habitat modification or harassment without trapping.

3. Develop a Removal Strategy

When trapping is appropriate, placement is based heavily on the animal's established movement patterns and activity areas.

4. Address Burrows and Vulnerable Areas

After the animal is gone, we can identify areas that may need repair or exclusion to reduce future wildlife access.

5. Recommend Prevention

Irrigation, food sources, soil conditions, accessible shelter, and structural vulnerabilities may all contribute to continued activity.

What I See Most Often

Armadillo calls generally begin with one sentence:

"Something is destroying my yard."

And they're not exaggerating.

A single armadillo can produce an impressive amount of excavation while spending the night searching for insects.

But the holes themselves only tell us part of the story.

I'm looking for:

• Where the animal is traveling

• Where it's entering the property

• Whether it has established a burrow

• Whether it's simply feeding or actually living there

• What conditions are keeping it interested in the property

Because catching an armadillo without understanding why your yard became attractive can sometimes mean another one eventually discovers the same buffet.

Frequently Asked Questions About Armadillos

Why does an armadillo keep digging in the same part of my yard?

The area likely provides good feeding conditions. Moist soil containing abundant insects, larvae, and worms can repeatedly attract armadillos.

Are armadillos nocturnal?

Primarily. They're commonly active during the evening, nighttime, and early morning, although activity patterns can vary with weather and temperature.

Will grub treatment make armadillos leave?

Not necessarily.

Armadillos consume a wide range of invertebrates, so eliminating one food source doesn't guarantee they'll disappear. Habitat and soil conditions matter too.

Do armadillos dig under houses?

Yes. They may establish burrows beneath homes, patios, sheds, decks, and other structures.

Can armadillos climb?

They're primarily terrestrial animals and exceptional diggers rather than climbers.

They're considerably better at running and swimming than their appearance suggests. UF/IFAS even notes they can walk underwater across small streams.

Can armadillos roll into a ball?

Nine-banded armadillos cannot completely roll themselves into a protective ball. That's a trait associated with some other armadillo species. Recent UF/IFAS guidance specifically calls this out as a common myth.

Why do armadillos jump when startled?

Nine-banded armadillos can suddenly leap vertically when frightened.

It's an effective response to some natural threats.

Against the underside of a moving automobile?

Evolution unfortunately did not plan for that particular plot twist.

Need Armadillo Removal in Citrus County?

If an armadillo is repeatedly digging up your lawn, damaging gardens, or burrowing beneath your home or another structure, Nature-Tech Wildlife Solutions can help.

We provide professional armadillo inspections, nuisance wildlife removal, exclusion, and prevention services throughout Crystal River, Homosassa, Inverness, Lecanto, Beverly Hills, Hernando, Floral City, Citrus Springs, and surrounding areas throughout Citrus County and Florida's Nature Coast.

We'll help determine whether you're dealing with occasional wildlife activity or an actual nuisance problem, identify what may be attracting the animal, and develop an appropriate solution.

Protecting Homes. Respecting Wildlife. Building Lasting Solutions.

Call today for your FREE inspection: 352.783.5594