禁漫天堂

Daniel J. Gammons, Wildlife Graduate Student; Michael T. Mengak, Wildlife Outreach Specialist, W.B. Warnell School of Forest Resources
L. Mike Conner, Wildlife Ecologist, J.W. Jones Ecological Research Center

• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Acknowledgments

Introduction

In the past 50 years, the range of the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) in the south has been rapidly expanding, bringing armadillos increasingly into conflict with suburban landowners. When foraging, armadillos often uproot ornamental plants. Their rooting also destroys gardens, lawns, and flower beds. Their burrowing can damage tree roots and building foundations. Most armadillo damage is caused by their feeding habits. Armadillos dig shallow holes, 1-3 in. deep and 3-5 in. long, as they search for soil invertebrates.

A 2018 survey of Georgia county Extension agents found that over 75% of urban agents and 50% of rural agents had received complaints or requests for information about armadillos. Agents reported receiving over 800 requests for information concerning armadillos, making it the second most commonly received request after white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).

Armadillos are often assumed to destroy nests of ground-nesting birds. Armadillo diets have been studied in several states including Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, and Florida. According to these studies, vertebrate matter, especially bird eggs, made up a minor portion of their diet. The armadillo’s diet often consists of more than 90 percent insects, grubs and earthworms. Based on these studies, it seems that claims of armadillos being significant nest predators are unfounded.

Some authors warn, however, that armadillos merely break eggs open and lick out the contents. When this happens, little evidence remains in their stomachs, making detection of egg predation using stomach content analysis almost impossible. Miniature video-surveillance cameras monitoring quail nests at Tall Timbers Research Station in Florida have documented this behavior in wild armadillos. The study found that armadillos may be more significant quail predators than previously accepted. They were responsible for destroying up to 26% of all quail nests.

Armadillos are not protected under Georgia wildlife regulations (DNR website: ). They may be hunted or trapped year-round without limit. Removal by shooting can be an effective control method, but this may not be safe or desirable for suburban landowners. Many suburban landowners would rather have animals trapped and relocated. Other control methods are available, such as habitat modification and exclusion, but these methods are often impractical, expensive, or ineffective. Our objective was to test several different lures or baits for live-trapping nine-banded armadillos. We used cage traps, hoping they could be a practical alternative to lethal removal for suburban landowners.

Methods

• We trapped armadillos, using Tomahawk wire cage traps (10 in. by 12 in. by 32 in.), from April to July 2004, at the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center in Newton, GA. Traps were placed in areas with abundant signs of armadillo. Since we were primarily interested in evaluating the attractants, we avoided placing traps directly over burrows, where armadillos may be forced into traps. We tested the effectiveness of several baits and lures, including:
• Live night crawlers
• Live crickets
• Rotten chicken feed
• Whole eggs
• Rotten eggs
• Bananas
• Marshmallows
• Sardines
• Vanilla wafers
• Moistened soil
• “Armor plate,” a commercially available lure

In addition, we tested two types of unbaited traps: (1) an unbaited trap with “wings” consisting of two 2-in. by 6-in. boards, 6 ft long, attached at one end of the trap to funnel the armadillo into the trap (Figure 1), and (2) an unbaited trap without wings.

Figure 1. Diagram of the unbaited trap with wings used to capture nine-banded armadillos in south Georgia in the summer of 2004. Wings were constructed of pressure-treated lumber (2 in. x 6 in. x 6 ft).

Results

In trapping studies, scientists compare data by calculating an index called trap nights. One trap night equals one trap set for one night. Ten trap nights equal 1 trap set for 10 nights or 10 traps set for 1 night.

In our study, we had 1,332 trap nights. We captured only 10 armadillos or an average of one armadillo every 132 trap nights. This number is quite low. Of the 11 attractants we evaluated, most of them (nightcrawlers, chicken feed, whole eggs, bananas, marshmallows, sardines, and vanilla wafers) had 0 captures. Table 1 shows the results of the four remaining attractants.

Capture success was too low for any meaningful statistical comparisons of attractants. However, when all baited traps (63% of trap nights) were compared with the unbaited traps (37% of trap nights), there was no significant difference in capture success (Figure 2). Only four armadillos were captured in traps with baits or lures. Six armadillo were captured in unbaited traps. Of these six, four were caught in unbaited traps with wings.

Figure 2. Capture Success by Trap Type.

Discussion

Given that capture success was quite low, it is unlikely that trapping is an effective method of quickly reducing local armadillo populations. Until an effective attractant can be found, lethal removal by shooting remains the most effective solution. If live-trapping and relocation are chosen as control measures, however, the use of any of the attractants tested is unnecessary. Armadillos in this study were just as likely to enter a baited trap as an unbaited trap. It is likely that the armadillos we did capture randomly walked into the traps and were not necessarily attracted.

This suggests that if armadillos are to be captured, trap placement is much more important that attractant selection. Homeowners and others attempting to live trap armadillos should carefully select a trapping location. It is likely that a trap (even one without bait) with wings placed near an active burrow will be the most effective method for capturing individual nuisance animals. Homeowners and others can place traps near natural barriers or fences such as the walls of patios, edges of buildings or landscaping features; or near natural fences such as fallen trees. The use of baits and attractants does not appear to increase trap success.

When trapping armadillo, large (minimum size: 10 in. by 10 in. by 36 in.) wooden box traps appear to be the preferred choice.  Traps should be located in areas of recent armadillo activity and should include "wings" or "funnels" to direct the animal into the trap.  Armadillos should never be relocated off-property.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Graduate Fellowship from the Berryman Institute – East at Mississippi State University and the J. W. Jones Ecological Research Center.

Revised in 2024 by Michael T. Mengak. Thanks to the following authors for their contributions to the original manuscript of this publication: Daniel J. Gammons, Former Wildlife Graduate Student from 禁漫天堂's Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources; and L. Mike Conner, Wildlife Ecologist, J.W. Jones Ecological Research Center.

Status and Revision History
Published on Sep 15, 2005
Published on Feb 05, 2009
Published on Apr 02, 2009
Published with Full Review on Apr 05, 2012
Published with Full Review on Aug 01, 2017
Published with Minor Revisions on Aug 26, 2024