Armadillos

I was recently speaking to a group about my book, and answering questions from members in the group about it. One of the members happened to know that I was a gardener. “Pardon me, Dr. DeGarmo,” she asked, “is it true that one should not eat armadillos?

Well, I have had many questions about armadillos before, but that was a new one for me. I did reply that they are not safe to eat, as recent scientific data shows a link to eating armadillos and leprosy, here in the South.

Yet, any gardener in the South will tell you that eating them is not the problem (though I can not imagine that they would be rather tasty to begin with.)

Armadillos are a scourge to most Georgia gardeners. In fact, I have come to loathe this creature, and wonder why God set it on this earth originally.

Armadillos are not originally from Georgia, though they have certainly made their home here. These migrating animals can tear up a garden in a hurry. As they search for food in the form of grubs and insects, with their powerfully sensitive noses, they dig holes that cause a gardener and homeowner to become mortified.

As they dig, they uproot plants, destroy root systems, create furors, and even cause problems for homeowners by digging under foundations. Armadillos have even been blamed for destroying pipe systems for some homes.

There are a few ways to handle armadillos. To begin with, you can find the hole it lives in, and fill it in during the evening hours. This may not always work, but the hope is that it will move on to another location. Secondly, you can try placing human hair in the hole, as their sensitive noses are often discouraged by the smell of humans.

If you like, you can use an insecticide in your garden area, getting rid of the bugs and insects, their primary food source. This is not always recommended, as it may kill off those bugs and insects that are beneficial to your garden.

What I have found that works best is trapping the pest…err, the animal! Simply use a live trap, and place it near the hole. If you can not find its home, place it in the area of the yard or garden where they have been active. Bait is not necessary, as they animals will simply wander straight into the trap.

To encourage them to walk straight into your trap, try placing two flat boards, such as two by fours, on either side of the trap. The armadillo will simply follow the board into the trap, and wala! Trapped Armadillo for your early morning delight….but not for breakfast!

The armadillo is a destroyer of gardens. With a little effort, you will soon thwart him in his path of destruction. Just don’t dine on him.