Armadillo removal

Nine-banded armadillos have spread north through Georgia and are now common in places where they were rare a generation ago. They dig at night for grubs and insects, which can leave a lawn or flower bed looking torn up by morning, and they dig burrows under slabs, driveways and porches.

Signs of armadillos

• Small cone-shaped holes, a few inches across, scattered across the lawn or beds
• Mulch and pine straw thrown around overnight
• A burrow about 8 to 10 inches across under a slab, driveway, porch or the edge of a foundation
• Damage that appears overnight, since armadillos are mostly active at night in warm weather

How I handle it

1. Find the burrow

   Armadillos usually have a home burrow near where they are feeding.

2. Trap the armadillo

   Traps set at the burrow and along the routes it travels. No bait has been shown to improve armadillo trapping, so trap placement does the work.

3. Close the burrow

   Fill it and protect the area so a new one does not move in.

What customers say

★★★★★ 4.9 on Google · 80 reviews

• ★★★★★

  It was a distinct pleasure working with Brandon. He is knowledgeable, courteous, and determined. We had a highly destructive, yet sporadic armadillo visiting our property and Brandon was able to patiently and humanely remove him. I highly recommend his services!

  Abbot D. · March 2026 · Google review

• ★★★★★

  Brandon did a great job working to capture and remove an armadillo in my yard. Would definitely recommend using him for any animal control problem.

  Jim B. · May 2025 · Google review

Reviews are copied word for word from Google. Older ones mention Total Animal Control, the company’s former name. Read all 80 reviews on Google

Are armadillos really living this far north in Georgia?

Yes. University of Georgia Warnell School wildlife specialist Michael Mengak writes that some maps still show armadillos restricted to south Georgia, but in fact they are present as far north as Athens and Rome. They are found northward along the Interstate 75 corridor, and the publication notes they can be found in most of Georgia's 159 counties.

The spread has been steady. According to the same UGA publication, nine-banded armadillos were in Texas at the start of the 20th century, reached Louisiana by the 1930s and crossed the Mississippi River heading east by 1954. Armadillos were also introduced into Florida in the 1950s and moved north from there.

Cold is the main limit. UGA says armadillos do not tolerate temperatures below about 36 degrees Fahrenheit, and several studies suggest their move into the Appalachian Mountains will be limited. They may be absent from Georgia's mountain counties, and rocky soils may also hold them back, but they may become established in valleys and along stream corridors.

What exactly is a nine-banded armadillo?

It is the only armadillo in Georgia and the southeastern United States. UGA describes it as about the size of an opossum or a large house cat: 24 to 32 inches long including the tail, with males weighing 12 to 17 pounds and females 8 to 13 pounds. No other mammal in Georgia has bony plates or a shell, so it is hard to mistake once you see one.

Despite the name, UGA notes that an armadillo can have 7 to 10 bands on its shell. The shell is made of overlapping bony plates attached to tough skin. Contrary to folklore, the nine-banded armadillo cannot roll into a ball to protect itself.

Armadillos have poor eyesight and rely on a good sense of smell to find food. UGA notes that people often assume their hearing is poor because they are easy to approach, but it seems to be about average. When startled, they have a habit of leaping straight up before running off in a burst of speed.

Is it true armadillos are born as identical quadruplets?

Usually, yes. UGA explains that a single fertilized egg gives rise to four separate embryos, so each litter normally consists of four identical quadruplets. University of Florida IFAS Extension adds that because they come from one egg, the four young are always the same sex. UGA notes that litters of 2, 3 and even 5 young have been reported.

The timing is unusual too. According to UGA, armadillos breed between June and August, but the embryo does not implant until around November. Gestation then lasts about four months, and fully formed young are born with their eyes open in March or April. A female generally has one litter a year.

The young weigh 3 to 4 ounces at birth and can walk within hours, but stay in the burrow for two to three weeks before following their mother as she forages. Their armor is soft at first. For a homeowner, this means a spring burrow under a porch may hold a mother and young, not a single animal.

What are armadillos digging for?

Mostly insects. UGA researchers studying armadillos on Cumberland Island found that 99 percent of their diet was beetle larvae and the eggs, pupae and adults of ants and wasps. White grubs and wireworms were the larvae eaten most often throughout the year.

A 2004 study at the Jones Ecological Research Center in Baker County, Georgia, summarized in the same UGA publication, found beetles in 98 percent of armadillo stomachs and ants, bees and wasps in 92 percent. Together those two groups made up 67 percent of stomach contents by volume. Armadillos also eat earthworms, millipedes, centipedes, snails, fruit and the occasional small reptile or amphibian.

Armadillos even go after fire ants. UGA notes that in one Alabama study, nearly every fire ant mound on the site showed signs of armadillo disturbance, and the animals seemed undeterred by the stings. So the same digging that damages a lawn is a hunt for the insects living in it.

Why does the damage appear overnight?

Because that is usually when armadillos are working. UGA says that during hot summer weather, armadillo activity shifts to the cooler night hours. UF/IFAS Extension says they rest in deep burrows during the day and become more active in the late evening, at night or in the early morning.

Winter is different. UGA notes that in the winter months armadillos are often active during the warmer part of the day. They do not hibernate, and they do not store food or build up large fat reserves. They can stay in their burrows for several days, but eventually they have to come out and forage.

When they do forage, they move slowly, between 0.15 and 0.65 miles per hour according to UGA, often wandering in an erratic pattern with the snout to the ground. That slow, nose-down search is why the damage comes as a scatter of small holes rather than one large one.

What does armadillo damage in a lawn or flower bed look like?

UGA says the most common complaint is shallow holes 1 to 3 inches deep and 3 to 5 inches wide, usually shaped like an upside-down cone. Clemson Extension uses the same measurements and adds that the disturbed area around the holes can be as wide as 3 feet.

Armadillos also uproot flowers and other plantings while they forage, according to UGA, and Clemson notes that they root through lawns, vegetable gardens and flower beds. UGA describes foraging pits up to 5 inches deep, often in moist soil.

Moisture is part of the picture. UF/IFAS Extension explains that lush, moist lawns attract earthworms and insect larvae, which in turn draw armadillos. A freshly watered bed or a well-kept lawn can be exactly where an armadillo finds the most food.

Can armadillos damage a slab, driveway or foundation?

They can. UF/IFAS Extension says armadillo burrows under driveways and patios can cause structural damage. A UGA Extension agent in Newton County also notes that armadillo burrows can affect building structures, not just lawns.

The burrows are bigger than most people expect. UGA describes entrances 8 to 10 inches across and tunnels from 2 to 24 feet long, averaging 3 to 4 feet. The entrance is often hidden in clumps of vegetation, under fallen logs or under buildings.

One armadillo may have 5 to 10 burrows, according to UGA, and IFAS notes that only one is used to raise young. That is why a burrow at the edge of a slab is worth taking seriously even if you only ever see one animal. Other animals use old armadillo burrows as well; UGA lists rabbits, opossums and striped skunks among them.

How do I tell armadillo digging from moles, skunks or raccoons?

Start with whether the holes are open or pushed up. Clemson Extension describes molehills as volcano-shaped mounds of soil 2 to 24 inches tall. Moles push soil up from below. Armadillos dig open, cone-shaped holes from above. Mole trapping is handled separately from this service, so this is mainly about ruling moles out.

Skunks and raccoons are harder to separate from armadillos, because all three dig at night for grubs. Clemson describes skunk and raccoon holes as cone-shaped and 3 to 4 inches wide, with a disturbed area up to about 10 inches. Armadillo holes run 3 to 5 inches wide with a disturbed area that can reach 3 feet. Clemson also notes that skunks and raccoons are known to peel back newly laid sod.

Other clues help. UGA notes that armadillo droppings are about the size and shape of marbles and made of insect parts, soil and plant litter. An armadillo has four toes on each front foot and five on each back foot, spread so the track looks somewhat like an opossum or raccoon track. A burrow 8 to 10 inches across near the damage points strongly to an armadillo.

• Raised, volcano-shaped mounds of soil: moles
• Small open cones 3 to 4 inches wide in a tight patch, or freshly laid sod peeled back: skunks or raccoons
• Open cones 3 to 5 inches wide scattered across an area up to 3 feet, beds rooted through: armadillos
• An 8 to 10 inch burrow entrance under a slab, porch or brush: armadillo

How many armadillos could be on my property?

Often one, but the range of possibilities is wide. UGA reports a typical density of about one armadillo per 4 acres, though it can be as high as two animals per acre. Armadillos are mostly solitary, except during mating and while a mother has young with her.

Each animal covers ground. UGA gives an individual home range of 1.5 to 22.5 acres. On Cumberland Island, UGA researchers found home ranges of about 13 acres in summer and only 4 acres in winter. Armadillos there spent 65 percent of their time in burrows in winter and only 29 percent in summer.

In a neighborhood, this means the armadillo digging in your beds is probably working several yards. Removing one can stop the damage, but a new animal can move into the same territory later, which is why closing off the burrow matters.

Can I get Hansen's disease (leprosy) from an armadillo?

It is possible but the risk is very low. The CDC says that in the southern United States some armadillos are naturally infected with the bacteria that cause leprosy, and that they may be able to pass it to people. It also says the risk is very low and most people who come into contact with armadillos are unlikely to get the disease.

Several CDC facts help keep this in proportion. About 95 percent of people cannot get leprosy because their immune system fights off the bacteria. Leprosy does not spread easily between people. It is treated with a combination of antibiotics, usually for one to two years, and can be cured if treatment is completed as prescribed. Up to 225 people a year are diagnosed in the United States.

There is Georgia-specific research too. A 2025 report in the CDC journal Emerging Infectious Diseases surveyed seven patients with presumed locally acquired Hansen's disease seen at Emory in Atlanta, three of whom lived in Georgia. Five reported physical contact with an armadillo or its bodily fluids, and many spent time gardening or golfing. The authors say the data support armadillos as a possible route of transmission, while noting the small sample. Gloves and a little distance are sensible; panic is not.

Do armadillos carry rabies?

UGA says armadillos are not known to carry the rabies virus. The publication notes one wild armadillo in Texas was reported to have rabies, with no known transmission to humans.

UGA explains that the armadillo's body temperature is low, about 92 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and suggests the lower temperature may not allow the rabies virus to survive. It also says that idea needs more research before it is fully understood.

So rabies is not the main health concern with armadillos the way it can be with some other wildlife. The sensible precautions are the same as for any wild animal: do not handle it, and keep pets from cornering it. UGA also warns that a frightened armadillo can jump several feet, so give it room.

Is it legal to trap or kill an armadillo in Georgia?

Yes. UGA states that armadillos are not protected in Georgia and that there are no season or harvest restrictions, so they can be hunted or trapped throughout the year. UGA describes the armadillo as both an exotic species and a pest.

Two limits apply. First, Georgia law prohibits keeping armadillos in captivity. The DNR Law Enforcement Division lists armadillos among the native animals that cannot be kept as pets and that may not be held alive without the proper permits or licenses. The same page lists armadillos among species that may be taken as nuisance animals.

Second, local ordinances still apply. UGA advises checking city and county ordinances before discharging a firearm, because shooting may be illegal in some jurisdictions. In most neighborhoods across our service area, that makes trapping the practical method.

Can a trapped armadillo be released somewhere else?

UGA's guidance is clear: armadillos should never be relocated to another property. UGA cites research showing that survival of moved armadillos is very low, and that those that survive may find their way back to where they were caught.

In that research, 11 of 12 relocated armadillos, or 92 percent, readily dispersed from the release site. UGA's conclusion is that relocation simply transfers the problem to someone else, and that mortality may be higher for moved animals as they wander, perhaps trying to return to their home range.

UGA also recommends that trapping be left to professional nuisance wildlife control operators. Ask anyone you hire what happens to the animal after it is caught, and expect a straight answer.

Why doesn't bait work on armadillos?

Because armadillos find food by smell at very close range, and research has not found an attractant that pulls them in from any distance. UGA states that no bait, lure or attractant has been shown to be effective at increasing capture success, and that controlled research has not identified any consistently effective bait, despite many claims online.

UGA summarizes a Florida study that found traps baited with worms or crickets did not lure armadillos from any distance. There is some evidence that armadillos respond to the sound and vibration of live bait, but only within about 12 inches or less. By the time an armadillo is that close to a trap, placement has already done the work.

One finding does help. UGA notes that a Mississippi study suggested wooden box traps that had already held an armadillo were eight times more attractive than new traps, possibly because of the scent left behind. Armadillos mark their territory with secretions from scent glands, so that result makes some sense.

How are armadillos trapped?

The extension method is about steering the animal, not tempting it. UGA recommends wire cage live traps measuring at least 10 by 12 by 32 inches. Boards called wings, made of 1-by-6-inch lumber in various lengths, are set in a V in front of the trap to funnel the armadillo inside.

Where the trap goes matters most. UGA says setting traps along natural barriers such as logs or the side of a building increases capture success, and that placing a trap in front of a burrow entrance works better than random placement. UF/IFAS Extension adds that because armadillos are active at night, traps are best set in the late afternoon.

That is how I approach it. I find the active burrow and the routes the armadillo uses to reach its feeding area, often along a foundation, a fence or a bed edge. The trap goes on that line with wings to guide the animal in. When the armadillo is caught, the burrow is filled and closed off so the next one does not simply move in.

Will a fence keep armadillos out?

A properly built one can protect a valued area, but it has to stop both digging and climbing. UGA notes that armadillos are good climbers and readily climb fences, even though they are not known to climb trees. They are also strong diggers.

UF/IFAS Extension recommends a fence about 24 inches above ground, with the bottom buried 18 inches and the fence slanted outward at about 40 degrees. A UGA Extension agent gives the same core advice: at least two feet high and buried 18 inches deep, since armadillos can dig under or climb over a barrier.

Fencing a whole yard is rarely practical, so it tends to suit gardens and specific beds. For structures, IFAS notes that laying chicken wire along patios, driveways or foundations discourages burrowing. That is the same idea behind protecting the area once a burrow has been closed: the armadillo digs down at the edge and meets wire.

• Height: about 24 inches above ground
• Buried depth: about 18 inches
• Angle: slanted outward at roughly 40 degrees
• Along slabs and foundations: wire laid along the edge to discourage new burrows

Do repellents, mothballs or ammonia work on armadillos?

No repellent is registered for use on armadillos, according to UGA, and UF/IFAS Extension says no chemical repellents or fumigants are registered for use in Florida. UGA adds that no toxicants or fumigants are registered for armadillos either.

The home remedies do not hold up. UGA says there is no scientific evidence for stuffing ammonia-soaked rags into burrows. Mothballs are worse: UGA calls their use against armadillos both unproven and illegal, because naphthalene is labeled for indoor use against clothes moths and is not registered for armadillos or for outdoor use as a broadcast repellent.

So scattering mothballs around a yard is not just ineffective, it is a pesticide misuse. Removal of the animal and protection of the burrow site are the approaches extension sources support.

Will treating my lawn for grubs help?

It may. UGA notes that using pesticides to reduce insect populations, such as grub control in landscape settings, may be effective. Since grubs and other larvae are a large share of what armadillos eat, less food means less reason to dig.

UF/IFAS Extension points to watering and fertilizing as well. Lush, moist lawns attract the earthworms and larvae armadillos feed on, so cutting back on watering and fertilizing can make a lawn less attractive.

Neither step removes an armadillo that already has a burrow under your porch. They are best treated as ways to make the yard less inviting after the animal is gone. Any pesticide should be used exactly as its label directs.

What affects the cost of armadillo removal?

I quote after looking at the property, because the job depends on what is happening underground and where. These are the factors that change it.

The main one is the burrow. A burrow in a brushy back corner is a different job from one that runs under a driveway slab or the edge of a foundation. Since one armadillo can use several burrows, how many need to be closed off makes a difference, as does how much wire is needed along slabs, porches or beds afterward.

Time of year can matter as well. In spring, a burrow may hold a mother with young. How quickly the animal walks into a trap also varies, since armadillos cannot be baited in. I explain what I find and what I plan to do before any work begins.

• Where the burrow runs: open ground, or under a slab, porch or foundation
• How many burrows need to be closed
• How much wire is needed to protect slabs, porches or beds afterward
• Season, and whether a mother with young is likely
• Access to the burrow and the travel routes

Common questions

Where I do this work

Armadillo Removal across Bartow County, Cobb County, Cherokee County, Paulding County, Floyd County and Fulton County, Georgia.