Keeping Armadillos Out of Your Garden - Pest Control
By Josie Borlongan, Garden Guides Contributor
Armadillos, recently added in the order Xenarthra to which anteaters and sloth belong, are small mammals known for having a bony shell or armor. Armadillos' average length is about 75 centimeters (30 in.), including the tail. The Giant Armadillo can grow as big as 90 cm (3 ft.), and there are the smaller Pink Fairy Armadillos with an overall length of 12 to 15 cm (4 to 5 in.). Armadillos are native to the Americas, where they can be found in different environments.
These animals are not actually going after the crops or plants, but after the white grubs, insects, earthworms, slugs and carrion. The digging that the armadillo does is what annoys a lot of gardeners due to the damage to the planting beds as they look for their food.
Prevention and Control
A standard net fence or electric fences are effective for armadillos. Electric wires set a few inches outside of conventional garden fence will shock armadillos when they come close to investigate.
Wide variety of plants can be damaged when armadillos dig for worms and insects.
Other Methods of Control
Animal traps can be placed close to the planting beds.