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Armadillos: Friend or Foe?

Article by: Jessica Warren, ANR Agent – Camden County

Photo of armadillo

If you’ve lived in Coastal Georgia for more than a week or two, you’re probably familiar with our uniquely armored neighbor the armadillo.

Worldwide there are 20 species of armadillo, from the 3in pink fairy armadillo to the giant armadillo that can reach 5ft and 132lbs. All armadillo species can be found in Central and/or South America, with the nine-banded armadillo being the only species found in the US as well. Armadillos’ closest living relatives are sloths and anteaters.

The nine-banded armadillo is a unique mammal that is about the size of a large house cat and is covered in bony plates called scutes which offer protection from predators. This armor contains nine or less jointed bands on the torso that allow the animal to bend. Contrary to popular belief, the nine-banded armadillo can not curl fully into a protective ball, though there are some armadillo species that can. Nine-banded armadillos have a small, pointed head with a long snout, large, pointed ears, peg-like teeth, and large sharp claws for digging – all of which are adaptations to their unique diet and lifestyle. They have poor eyesight, but a great sense of smell which they use to find their prey. Like all mammals they do have hair, but only a very small amount of it which makes them sensitive to cold temperatures. The nine-banded armadillo ranges across the Southern United States from South Carolina to New Mexico, and as far north as Nebraska. They are not invasive, but naturalized, expanding their range as the landscape and climate changes. Their range is expected to expand further over time as temperatures continue to rise.

Found in bottomland hardwood forests, scrub, and brushlands – as well as neighborhoods – nine-banded armadillos prefer areas with soft, moist soil and available water sources. They live in underground burrows that can be up to 7ft deep and 20ft long. An individual will excavate and maintain an average of ten underground burrows within its home range. They are unlikely to travel more than half a mile from where they were born – one of the many reasons why relocation of armadillos (as well as most other wildlife) is often a death sentence.

Nine-banded armadillos use their keen sense of smell to find their prey which include insects, grubs, beetles, ants, worms, fruit, fungi, tubers, seeds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and eggs. Notably they feed on fire ants, wasps, termites, grubs (including the kind that damage your lawn), flies, small snakes, roaches, scorpions, and spiders. In addition to the safe and free pest control that they offer in our landscapes, they also provide free aeration and serve as a seed disperser for native plants. Their biggest benefit, however, is arguably their burrows. Research has shown that armadillo burrows are utilized by a large variety of native wildlife (just like gopher tortoise burrows) including rabbits, opossums, mink, cotton rats, skunks, burrowing owls, eastern indigo snakes, and pine snakes. In addition to their benefits in the landscape and ecosystem, they are truly interesting creatures. They can jump vertically up to four feet when startled, can hold their breath for up to six minutes to walk under water, and can inflate their intestines for extra buoyancy to swim across waterbodies. They also nearly always give birth to identical quadruplets. They are the only mammals in which multiple young form from a single egg with any regularity.

Nine-banded armadillos have a lifespan similar to a dog’s, ranging from 8-12 years in the wild and 20 or more years in captivity. Their natural predators include bobcats, coyotes, alligators, raccoons, foxes, and black bears. If you are less than appreciative of your local armadillo’s beneficial services, there are some things that you can do to make your landscape less enticing. Water and fertilize sparingly to limit grubs and earthworms that attract armadillos. As you’ve probably heard me say before, the biggest landscape issue in this county is people overwatering. With rare exception, we get more rainfall than an established landscape needs and supplemental irrigation is doing harm, not good. If you are watering, water in the morning so the soil can dry out in the afternoon and not be as easily detected by nocturnal armadillos (this is also better to prevent plant disease). Remove ripe and fallen fruit that can serve as a food source. Another option is to install exclusion fences a minimum of 2 feet high and 18 inches deep around sensitive areas. Trapping is rarely effective, and you must be able to humanely euthanize (shoot) the animal – which is not legal for most of our residents. If you are having an issue with a burrow under your house or other structure, there are a few things that you can do to encourage them to abandon that burrow. Illuminate the burrow with a bright spotlight or flashlight and/or put a radio in or near the hole, without blocking the animal from exiting. Harassing the burrow causes the animal to feel unsafe and can convince them to relocate on their own.

As is true with all our local wildlife, armadillos play an important role in our local ecosystem. Personally, I don’t mind tamping down a few spots in the yard in exchange for someone else dealing with the fire ants, grubs, and roaches. If you have questions about our local wildlife, feel free to reach out to me at jkwarren@uga.edu.