You go to bed with a nice lawn and wake up to dozens of small holes, uprooted plants, and mulch thrown out of the flower beds. If you live in New Braunfels or the surrounding Hill Country, the culprit is very often a nine-banded armadillo.
Why Armadillos Dig
Armadillos are not after your plants. They are after what lives underneath: grubs, earthworms, beetle larvae, and other insects. Well-watered lawns and beds with soft, moist soil bring that food close to the surface, which is why the nicest yard on the street is often the one that gets dug up.
Armadillos feed mostly at night, so you rarely see them in the act. You just see the damage in the morning.
Armadillo Holes vs Skunk Holes
| Armadillos | Skunks | |
|---|---|---|
| Hole size | Small, cone-shaped, about 1 to 3 inches wide | Small, cone-shaped, about 3 to 4 inches wide |
| Other signs | Burrows 7 to 8 inches wide near slabs, sheds, and driveways | Strong musky odor, dens under porches and decks |
| Activity | Night, sometimes dusk in cooler weather | Night |
Both animals dig for grubs, so the holes can look similar. A burrow along the foundation or a strong odor usually tells you which one you have. See our skunk removal page if the smell is the giveaway.
Why Armadillo Damage Is More Than Cosmetic
Beyond the lawn, armadillos dig burrows next to foundations, porches, sheds, AC pads, and driveways. Over time those burrows can wash out the soil underneath and lead to cracking and settling.
What Does Not Work
- Repellents and castor oil products may move an armadillo a few feet, but it comes back as long as the food is there
- Mothballs used outdoors are a label violation and a hazard to pets and kids
- Filling holes without removing the armadillo just gives it fresh soil to dig
What Actually Stops Armadillos
- Remove the armadillo. Humane trapping works best when traps are placed on the paths armadillos actually travel, often along fences and edges.
- Close the burrows once activity stops, so the next armadillo does not move into them.
- Reduce the food source. Grub control in the lawn makes your yard less attractive.
- Block access to problem areas with buried fencing where it makes sense.
Armadillos should not be handled. Nine-banded armadillos are known to carry the bacteria that causes Hansen’s disease, so leave trapping to a professional.
Learn more on our armadillo removal page, or see our full wildlife removal and exclusion services.
Holes in the lawn every morning? Call 830-777-CAMO (2266) for humane armadillo trapping and removal, with no contracts.
