Armadillos in Arkansas
We may not have sloths or anteaters roaming our neighborhoods, but we have their relative, the nine-banded armadillo in great abundance!
A nuisance for many homeowners and gardeners, armadillos are not native to Arkansas but have taken up residence in forests, fields, and backyards where they dig for food. About 75%-95% of their diet is invertebrates, primarily beetles and their larvae and may pay your lawn a visit on a quest for dinner.
Here’s a bit more about these interesting mammals:
- Armadillos are unable to regulate their body temperature.
- Females produce a litter of four genetically identical young of the same gender.
- Armadillos can be trapped successfully without bait.
- Armadillo tracks are unique with their front feet having four toes and hind feet having five toes. Often their dragging tail will obscure their tracks.
- Armadillos are natural carriers of Hansen’s disease (leprosy).
- A group of armadillos is called a “roll”.
Want to know if you have armadillos in your area?
Look out for small surface holes 1 to 3 inches deep and 3 to 5 inches wide which are characteristic of armadillo activity, and burrows, 7-8” wide around rock piles, stumps, brush piles or terraces near brush or dense woodlands. If you know you’re dealing with an armadillo roll, you have several options for reducing damage, but the best option is live trapping with a funnel trap and relocation. Live trapping and relocation are allowed under state law, but check city, county, and local ordinances. Although the likelihood of contracting Hansen’s disease from trapping is low, take precautions and wear disposable gloves when in contact with armadillos to further minimize this risk.
Download our publication and get more details about armadillo control from your county agent.