Armadillo, which means "little armored one" in Spanish, is an animal you may have adored in zoos when you were a kid but definately would hate to see in your very own backyard. It is a mammal that looks like an anteater, except that it has a bony armor or shell.
Armadillos have very poor vision but they are not blind. They rely mainly on their other senses, like smelling and hearing tehir environment to find food and determine threats. They feed on grub, worms, insects, and other small invertebrates found underground.
The nine-banded armadillos are the most common specie in the United States. Due to the lack of natural predators like coyotes, these mammals have rapidly multiplied and invaded homes in search of food and shelter.
Armadillo Invasion: A Serious Problem
Today, the only natural predator of armadillos are humans, especially in urbanized areas. How do these animals cause serious problems?
Well, armadillos simply eat bugs and worms. They won't ruin your furniture or bite your children; however, they are still pests that may pose several problems. They are capable of:
- damaging your garden by leaving huge ugly burrows in your lawn or garden.
- destroying the plants and flowers in your garden since they dig up soil in search of food.
- causing partial damage to your home . Armadillos don't just dig holes to look for food. They also do that to make dens and places to stay. If they happen to fancy your home, they may dig a deep burrow under it and damage pipes, electrical wiring, and even weaken the foundation of your house.
The Right Way
Killing these poor creatures is not the only option you have. There are a bunch of ways to get rid of them humanely, without violating any animal rights. Here are some of them:
Option 1: Prevention
A good way to keep these armored creatures out of your lawn or garden is to build structures that will keep them out of it. Metal fences around your lawn or garden can keep these expert diggers out.
There are a lot of fences available specifically made to keep armadillos out. Buy them at your local hardware and install them accordingly.
Option 2: Scare Tactics
No, you don't have to use scarecrows or wear your favorite Halloween costume to drive them away. Armadillos can easily be frightened, but since they are persistent, they will keep on coming back. The best way to scare them out of your property is to use scents that they really hate.
A lot of old remedies include the use of ammonia, mothballs, or even urine either from human or their predators. There are commercial products made specifically to scare off these armored creatures off your lawn. Buy one of them and sprinkle it around the areas you don't want armadillos to enter.
These chemicals will not harm or even kill the armadillos. It will simply scare them away. Most products are also safe for pets and children, so there is no need to worry about poisoning. Just remember to reapply the chemical regularly so it won't lose its potency in repelling armadillos.
Option 3: Trap them
You can also buy armadillo traps. Simply install them in areas frequented by the creature and wait for a day or two. This may take some time, but at least there is a bigger possibility of success. When you finally catch it, you can either release it to a far away place or give it to your wildlife protection office for assistance.
Of course, you can always seek professional help, if all else fails.
Armadillos are not really pests and it is cruel to kill them. There are several options at your disposal if you really want to get rid of them. It just takes a few bucks and a load of patience.
Tags :
Pests And Diseases
Subscribe by Email
Follow Updates Articles from This Blog via Email
No Comments