Armadillos.

[GregM]

We have armadillos digging up the yard and pasture, nice little hoof-sized holes. Everywhere. We have 2x4 no-climb fence around everything but they still get in somewhere, even with wire on the ground under the fences. Any suggestions other than sitting on the porch with a rifle? I like my sleep, even the dog is too old to stay up and chase them.

[SQUEAKS]

Greg,

You need a dog like Moose. He often brings me dead armadillos and some that ain't dead yet. Because the armadillos were doing so much damage to our pastures I had to get a gun and light permit from the game commission so I could shoot them at night. You could also get a live trap and trap them and transport them somewhere else if you don't want to shoot them.
We have been pretty lucky so far this year only had to shoot about 6 and moose caught about the same number.Every once in awhile we find small holes dug in the yard. Good luck in getting rid of them and remember all it takes is a few seconds for a horse to get stuck in one of the holes and you could have serious problems.


Bob

[CarolU]

I'm not really familiar with armadillos, but something that works with gophers is to put moth balls down their holes. The moth balls 'gas' them and they leave.

[pnalley]

Carol,
Think Possum on a half shell:v: when you think of Armidillos. All the sudden, like in the past 10 days we are getting holes too.

But they don't live in the holes they just dig up your yard. Moth balls might work around the perimeter of the fence so it stinks and they won't want to come in.

[PattiB]

They dug a burrow in one of my flower gardens in Florida. I poured mothballs down the hole and around my garden, they left!:v:

[CarolU]

BTW - mothballs get rid of skunks too.

[SQUEAKS]

Mothballs work on all kinds of creatures. Every year we get about 10 boxes of them from dollar store in the spring of the year and place them just out side the fences around the pastures, around the barn, around the hay shed and around the house. Sure they stink for awhile but I have never seen any indication of mice or snakes in the barn or near the house.

No snakes, no mice, and it has reduced the number armadillos. But towards this time of year we see an occasional mouse or 2 that the cats have caught. But they usually are bringing their trophies from the woods.

Bob:biggrin:

[Pasomom]

Armadillos will nest in a hole. But the holes they dig in your yard and pasture are just for them to catch a bite to eat. I'm real diligent with a rifle when they become a problem around our place. They really have no natural enemies, (other than maybe "Moose" LOL :) ) You hardly ever see a baby armadillo, as they stay in the "hole" until they are quite large. The only time I have seen baby armadillos was when we killed the mother (unknowlingly) and the babies finally came out to try to find something to eat. They were very thin and didn't make it. (cute as a bugs ear though :D)

Good luck....Can't think of anything but a gun that would be a sure fire cure.

[pasorider]

Last spring and friend and I were riding in the forest when we came upon 3 baby armadillos playing. She told her dog to get em, and he ran over and picked one up to kill it. I hollered at him to drop it and get off. My friend said "They are just Armadillos, " and I said, "Yes, but we are in their home, if they come to ours, then your dog can get them" I am just such a softy, can't stand to see anything get killed.

[Jane Hurl]

Yes, but we are in their home, if they come to ours, then your dog can get them" I am just such a softy, can't stand to see anything get killed.

I salute you, Pasorider. Too often mankind kills just because mankind CAN kill. And you were right. You WERE in their home. I hope your friend went home and thought about that. Nice work.

We have quite a porcupine population. It is so large that I keep a bottle of AceVet in the closet because our guardian dogs can't seem to get it through their thick heads that porcupines are NOT going to hurt the sheep or the cattle!

Too many people around here kill them because they de-bark the trees in the winter. I say, the porcupines and the trees were here long before we were. Leave well enough alone! (Besides, it is a delight to come across one when the dogs are not around. They have the cutest little waddle! I love watching them. *grin*)

[GregM]

If ir weren't for the holes being so "hoof-sized" and numerous (100 or more?) I wouldn't mind them at all. Well, there is the leprosy...kinda scary. And the rabies. And the twisted ankles. And the...well, you get the idea. I don't really want them dead, just living in the woods or something. Just not in my yard.

[SandyMM]

Over 50% carry the leprosy bacteria. They can also have rabies. They carry tapeworms and have _huge_ poop.... Which all the dogs seem to love.... (tapeworms).... I have found 3 burrows recently which are easily wide and deep enough for a horse to step in canon bone+ deep.... Two of the holes were deeper than 2' deep. Armadillos are born as identical quadruplets and have no natural enemies here. Every morning we find a dozen or more new holes dug that are big enough to have to be filled in or I risk a broken ankle when I feed after dark...

Nothing cute about broken legs/ankles, leprosy, rabies, or tapeworms which could affect us, our horses, and/or our dog on our property... We'll try mothballs, but then the gun comes out...