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.
Go from this.....
....to this!
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 Orlando armadillo control page.
If you don't live in Orlando FL, click here for the National Directory of Wildlife Trappers.
