Armadillos are unique little creatures that you may find in your backyard if you live in southern regions. While some people love them for their quirky nature, others hate them for the damage they can cause to gardens. Armadillos have a natural fondness for vegetable gardens and will destroy most types of plants by eating the leaves and stems rather than just the fruit or seeds. It’s not just the type of plants they like either – they tend to focus on what is most accessible rather than go out of their way to find something that isn’t there already. The problem with armadillos is that they dig up anything that isn’t underground, which means compost piles are also at risk from these voracious predators. Fortunately, we have a few ideas about how to keep armadillos out of your yard. Let’s take a look!
How To Keep Armadillos Out Of Your Yard?
1. Keep your yard clean.
It’s no secret that armadillos are attracted to garbage. The best way to keep them out of your yard is by keeping them clean and free of the trash. Take the time to pick up any fallen branches or other debris and dispose of it properly so that armadillos aren’t tempted to dig in there. You can also use these ideas to keep armadillos out of your compost pile:
2. Plant a barrier fence around your garden.
A barrier fence is an effective way to keep armadillos out of a garden, but you need to make sure you have enough height between the fence posts so that the animals can’t climb over and dig in there too! If you have a lot of space and don’t mind sharing with a few other neighbors, you might consider building a permanent barrier fence around your garden. This will prevent the animals from digging in your compost pile as well as other plants in the area, but you will have less privacy than if you had a permanent wall around your property!
3. Don’t plant edibles near vegetable gardens or compost piles!
Armadillos love eating all sorts of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, which is why they will often eat through entire gardens if allowed too much access. The best way to avoid this is by planting edibles that are not attractive or delicious enough for them to want to eat them – edibles like cabbages and turnips, for example. This will also keep them away from your compost pile as well!
4. Don’t leave food out for armadillos!
If you’re planning on leaving your yard unattended for any reason, make sure to keep all food products in a closed container that is inaccessible to the animal. This is especially important if you live on a farm or have any pets that might get into the trash or leave their own food out in the yard.
5. Make sure your compost pile stays dry!
The best way to keep armadillos away from your garden is by making sure your compost pile stays dry at all times. Armadillos are attracted to wet soil, which means they will dig through it and try to dig up everything they can find – including compost piles! This also means that rotting fruit and vegetable scraps should be kept out of there as well, since they are likely to attract armadillos too! Learn more about where armadillos live with this interactive map.
6. Keep your compost pile covered with a lid at all times.
You can use anything from chicken wire to tarps of various materials (or even plastic sheeting) to cover up your compost heap so that no animal can dig in there without getting caught or killed by the material itself (or by falling objects). Learn how you can keep animals out of your garden.
7. Use an electric fence!
If you want to keep armadillos out of your yard, you can use an electric fence to keep them away from your garden and compost pile. However, this method is not always effective, as they will often just climb over it or dig under it. You can also try using a motion-sensitive sprinkler system to scare them off, but they are still likely to get back into your yard if they live nearby.
8. Use a predator guard!
One of the best ways to keep armadillos away from your garden is by installing predator guards that deter all animals except for raccoons and opossums. These will not only keep them out of your garden but will also prevent them from digging through all of the trash that you leave outside overnight every time you go on vacation!
9. Keep your dog on a leash!
If you have a dog who spends time outside with you, make sure he or she is always on a leash when out in the yard – even if it’s only long enough for them to run around once or twice before returning home again. This will help keep any armadillos away from your yard while they are out there too since most armadillos do not like dogs.
Why Are There So Many Armadillos?
1. Living in the Wild
Armadillos are native to North and South America, where they live in tropical areas that receive regular rainfall. Armadillos are not as common in the northern parts of the United States, where winters are much colder than in the south.
2. Being a Nocturnal Creature
Armadillos are nocturnal animals that spend most of their time alone or with one other animal while they sleep at night. They only leave their burrows during the day to find food and water.
3. Longevity
Armadillos usually live for about fifteen years, although some have been known to live up to twenty-five years! The oldest armadillo on record lived to be forty-one years old, but this was not considered unusual at that time because armadillos were being hunted almost to extinction by humans! As a result, it is possible for an armadillo to live for more than five decades!
4. Fast Metabolism
Armadillos have very fast metabolisms, meaning that they can eat just about anything that they find, even if it is poisonous. They are also very good diggers and will often burrow into the ground to find food.
5. Eating the Same Things
Armadillos are omnivores, which means they will eat just about anything that they can catch. They enjoy eating insects and worms, but also like to eat fruits and vegetables when they are available to them as well.
What Can I Do To Keep Them Out?
1. Removing Food Sources
If you have armadillos living in your yard, the easiest way to keep them out is to remove any food sources that they may be using to get into your yard. This can include anything from pet food and garbage that falls outside overnight to leaves and weeds that have been left on the ground for too long.
2. Making Your Yard Uninviting
If you have armadillos living in your yard, you can make it less attractive by removing all of the things that they like to eat and drink, such as pet food or water bowls, uneaten fruits and vegetables, or anything else that looks like it might be a good resource for them. You may also want to consider putting up some fences or tall protective walls around your yard if armadillos are getting into it! It will also help keep out other animals who may be looking for a place to live with you in case an armadillo does decide to move in!
3. Maintaining a Clean Yard
If you have armadillos living in your yard, it’s a good idea to keep your yard clean and free of any debris that might be attractive to them. You can also consider keeping your pets on a leash if you think that they might be tempting an armadillo into coming into the yard with them! If you have an outdoor dog, it’s a good idea to get him or she used to wear a muzzle so that he or she doesn’t accidentally scare off the armadillos!
Conclusion
Armadillos are cute and quirky creatures, but they are also destructive. If you live in a region where they are common, you’ll want to know how to keep them out of your yard. There are a few ways you can do this and it’s best to start before the armadillos have dug their way into your vegetable garden. Once they’ve settled in, it can be difficult to remove them from your property.
