Armadillo

The Armadillo has been grub hunting (digging) in my mulched pathways and garden beds. So far, his (her) garden vandalism has resulted in two stepped-on tomato plants, potholes in my paths and about 30 dug-up onion sets.

Trapping for removal is not an option nor is murder.  And I would rather not fence in my beds; a foot high lattice or two foot silt fence is not very attractive.

Can anyone recommend anything that the Armadillo might find offensive enough to stay away from my garden?

Thanks, Karl

Did a google search on armadillo discouraging.  Found this info on freeplants.com:

Armadillos have sensitive noses and they may leave an area if they think it stinks. Try dropping moth balls, chili powder or a rag soaked in vinegar down into the burrow, or spray the area with a weak solution of ammonia mixed with water. Some folks cut up bars of strong-smelling soap and drop them into the burrows. 

This comes from yahoo answers:

4. Most armadillo holes seem to be located behind low hanging shrubs. Cut back the shrubs. Eliminate the shade and also any low hanging branches. Leave the hole in full daylight for a few days. Then fill it in. This seems to have some effect, although eventually the armadillos will return.

5. Do step 4 and then, gather human hair clippings and scatter them around the now filled in hole. Beat these hair clippings into the soil, or better still, put some of them into the hole as you fill it. The smell of human hair seems to discourage armadillos from returning for a little longer.

6. The most effective thing I have found to keep armadillos digging holes to live in is also the strangest, so be forewarned. To eliminate their digging homes, do step 5, that is cut back all shrubs to make the area around the hole less inviting for armadillos. Then fill the hole. But before you fill the hole, collect some urine in a bottle, and as you are filling the armadillo hole, pour a little urine in with the dirt. Finish filling the hole and pour lots more on the hole and surrounding area, especially along the house on both sides of the now filled in hole. Then depending on rain fall, you will need to do this about every 6 months or so. This has kept the armadillos out of that area for over two years.

Someone else on yahoo recommended bitter apple spray.

I don't recommend the moth balls, but you might try the other ideas...

Please let us know how it works.  I know armadillos are getting to be more of a pest up this way too.

Not mothballs. Those are toxic.

Armadillos really are a terror.  So difficult to eradicate.

I know murder is not on your agenda but you did remind me of a conversation with a dearly departed friend of mine.  Susan lived in a very expensive neighborhood, on the river. 

She had a huge home on 2 acres of river front property.  All of the property was beautifully landscaped.  I am proud to say that I had a major impact on her landscaping.

Susan was a real "Southern Belle".  Debutante, Junior League, Master Gardener, on the board of directors of several charitable organizations, always entertaining - you get the picture.

She also had that east coast southern drawl.

I was on the phone with her talking about an upcoming gathering at her home when all of a sudden she hollers out

"Some witch - I gotta get ma gun"
Me:  What?

Susan: "There's a darn amadilla in ma yawd - I gotta shoot it"

Me:  "You can't discharge a firearm in your neighborhood"

Susan: Aw shu can.  Aw went to the gun shop and bought some "Quiet Bullets" faw my rifle"

Me:  "What are you talking about?  Quiet Bullets"

Susan:  "Wail when I shoot my gun it just goes Phoof!  The neighbors never heit and I kill those [email=S@#$]S@#$[/email] of B&^#$%@."

I had to ask my DH about "quiet bullets" for a rifle.  There really is such a thing!

Anyway - the story does not translate well to writing but it is a good example of how crazy my friends are.  Love them all to pieces.

Sorry for getting off track.  Hope you find a solution for your hard shell problem. 

Good luck

Gotta be sub-sonic rounds...  My DFIL used those on raiding raccoons.  She's right - they just go "poof."

OK, I'm a long way from the nearest wild armadillo, but...

The urine thing works on groundhogs (I had one before I got my beagles).

As for shooting the varmint, I have an idea. I have a squirrel that insists on living in my cedar trees, despite the dogs. I live just inside the town limits, so I can't let him have it with the 20 gauge. But, I was thinking, I could dust his little tail with a paintball gun.  I figure if his backside is bright yellow, fluorescent orange or shocking pink, he might just get the message.

Do you know any juvenile delinquents or over-aged weekend warriors?

Paint ball!

Cant find any elderly JDs with loaded paintball guns. So looked into the urine option. Kinda thought that a predator odor might be enough to send the armadillo out of my area at a dead run. But with the armor plating the critter has there is little to fear. Besides the stuff runs $18 per pint.
Since ammonia is a component of urine, that became my first experiment. A good spraying of ammonia on the mulch in the walkways might keep them off the walkways and thus not accessing the beds. Hope, hope, knock on wood.
I'll give it a week to see if it is the answer.