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How to Trap Armadillos - Trapping

You can read the below essay on armadillo trapping if you want to trap and remove them from your property, but please be aware that there is a reason professional wildlife control experts exist. If you try to do it yourself, it may be an exercise in frustration, you might put yourself in danger, and more importantly, you might be breaking the law. Consult with your state fish & game department before trying any trapping yourself. Click here for my National Directory of Wildlife Trappers.

HOW TO TRAP ARMADILLOS - IN SHORT:
1) Trap Type: Use a large steel cage trap, raccoon size, 12 x 10 x 30
2) Location: Set the trap directly over an active burrow, or directly on a nearby worn armadillo path.
3) Bait: Read about armadillo bait types and analysis here.
4) Other: Set trap along walls, and set barriers (like wood planks) to funnel the animal into the trap.

It's not easy for beginners, but I have more info with the details below. Read on. You might also want to learn some preventative tips here: How to Keep Away Armadillos instead of trying to actually trap them - although, trapping and removal remains by far the best method of dillo control.


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Armadillos dig for all of their food. They won't eat food off of the surface. Well, maybe live ants or other bugs. However, there is no bait that can be set inside a trap to really lure armadillos in. Many trappers have experimented for a long time, and failed. The true key to catching armadillos is in the trap setup, in terms of placement and directional barriers. A real pro will know enough about armadillo behavior to set the traps in the proper way to trap and get rid of armadillos once and for all.

If you feel that you must trap the animal yourself, please check your local laws (the state department of fish & game has them), and ensure that armadillo trapping is legal in your area. In some states, the animal must be euthanized upon capture, a task most home owners are not suited to carry out. It is not legal to relocate or transport armadillos in some states. If you are not a licensed wildlife trapper, you may be breaking the law if you try to trap an armadillo by yourself.

Many subtleties go into armadillo trapping - the path of the animal, what direction it will be traveling, and most of all, its behavior and reaction to a trap. The right sized trap must be used - preferably a large cage trap at least 12 x 10 x 30, meant for raccoons and other large animals. Armadillos can be very tough, so the trap must be sturdy. As stated, the armadillo will not enter a trap for any kind of food. Don't listen to lame advice on baits - rotting bananas, cabbage, nylon stockings filled with earthworms, these are all completely ineffective. As usual, if you don't believe me, give them a try and see how they fail. In fact, if you do bait the trap, you're likely to lure in a non-target animal such as an opossum or a raccoon. No bait is ever necessary for trapping armadillos. All you have to do is force the animal to walk into the trap. First, find out where it will be walking - along edges, near its burrow. Then set the trap along that path, and use directional barriers - planks of wood, fences, concrete blocks, that will effectively funnel the poor-sighted dim-witted armadillo into the trap. If the trap is sturdy and inviting with nice dirt lining the bottom, the armadillo will simply walk in, and you have him! Of course, then you must be able to legally relocate or euthanize it. I've seen too many failed attempts by homeowners at armadillo trapping, simply because they lack experience and do silly things that a real trapper would never do. I highly recommend that you call a professional for all of your armadillo trapping needs.



For more armadillo trapping information, go back to the armadillo control page.

Here is a complete list of my other armadillo pages:
Armadillo Repellent
How to Get Rid of Armadillos
Armadillo Poison to Kill
How to Catch an Armadillo

Armadillo Traps: Live Cage, or Lethal? - One of the most common problems that many people will have to deal with in urban and suburban areas in the United States is that or armadillos coming in to their yard or garden. Many people will then look for the different types of traps that you can use to catch armadillos, and the simple choice is usually between lethal traps and humane traps. The majority of people will find that the inconvenience and finality of using a lethal trap means that they will prefer to use a humane trap, and this has the benefit of not having to deal with a carcass. The most common type of humane trap used to catch an armadillo will be the cage trap, and the most important thing for this trap to be successful is to place the trap correctly. Armadillos are creatures of habit, and if they have used one entry point to get into your yard or garden, then they will try to do so again, and this is the best place to locate the trap. There are some people who will use different kinds of bait on the trap, but armadillos aren’t generally attracted by bait, so it is the location that is most important for the success of the trap.

Armadillo Trapping Tips, Location and Bait - When it comes to dealing with an armadillo problem most people will turn to the trap and removal method which will often have a good success rate, as long as the animal is moved a significant distance away. One of the most important things about using an armadillo trap is to place it in the right location, and if there is one point in the fence around your garden or yard where the armadillo is coming in, then this is the perfect point to place the trap. Baiting a trap won’t usually make it much more successful, but using earthworms held in place with a stocking has been known to work. It is best to use a sturdy cage trap when you are catching an armadillo, and one that is large enough to hold a fully grown domestic cat will be perfectly suitable for catching an armadillo. You will need to check the trap at least once a day, preferably in the morning as armadillos are generally active between dusk and dawn. Once you have confirmed that you have caught the armadillo then you will need to take the animal in a trap, and to release it at least five miles away from your property.

Armadillo Relocation Distance - One of the common questions that many householders who are dealing with an armadillo problem will ask is what to do with the armadillo once they have caught it in a trap. Many people will choose relocation over euthanasia, but it is important to relocate the animal a good distance from your property, otherwise it will often return if it has found a good source of food or a burrow near your property. For this reason it is recommended to relocate the armadillo at least five miles away from your property, but some people will recommend going further than this to be sure that it can’t return. Although the distance away from your property is an important factor in relocation, it is also important to make sure that the armadillo is relocated in a suitable place. The first thing to ensure is that the animal isn’t released to close to any other homes, otherwise it can become somebody else’s problem very quickly. You should also consider looking for a suitable relocation area which offers the armadillo a habitat that is suitable. This can include areas in or around woodland, or areas of habitat which are close to marshy or swampy areas.


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