Are Armadillos Dangerous to Humans, Dogs, & Other Animals?

What should you do when you see armadillos in your backyard?

Are armadillos dangerous to humans, pets, and other animals?

These creatures are harmless. However, you should remove them from your garden because they may ruin your lawn and carry diseases.

We will cover the risks posed by this species and discuss some tips for getting rid of them. Let’s join us.

Are Armadillos Dangerous To Humans?

These animals won’t bite or attack you. Yet, they result in long-term effects because they may carry diseases.

Moreover, armadillos also harm your lawn and house structure.

Diseases

Armadillos carry a variety of illnesses. Leprosy and rabies are two of these health risks.

If an infected armadillo scratches or bites you, you should seek immediate medical attention.

Salmonella is also among the diseases carried by an armadillo. Fever, stomach discomfort, diarrhea, and cold are all symptoms of salmonella in humans.

Burrowing and House Damage

Along with other animals with claws, armadillo’s claws are very helpful for digging. Even though these animals are foragers, they can do a lot of damage.

Holes dug by this species can be 15 feet deep and eight inches wide. They even create more dens in the same place to search for food and build their shelter.

Armadillos like to dig in regions with loose dirt, shrubs, and insects, which are characteristics of Florida backyards.

Armadillos may harm your lawn by burrowing insects and plants. When they become too comfy, they may dig beneath your house.

As a result, you may experience broken pipes, weakened house structures, and cracked concrete. These problems put your house and family at risk.

Are Armadillos Dangerous To Other Animals?

According to a report, an armadillo has injured a dog in the past, but it was a provoked attack.

In that case, the dog chased and attacked the armadillo first. It had no choice but to fight back to defend itself.

So, armadillos tend to avoid other animals and don’t actively seek them out to attack.

Are these diggers safe for dogs? Although they are not attackers, armadillos don’t make good pets as they are disease-carrying creatures that may harm your dog.

Tapeworm

Tapeworms may be the most dangerous threat. These parasites are especially dangerous for dogs who eat armadillo poop because the worms in the feces can make them sick.

Salmonella is also a potential danger when consuming armadillo excrement, making your pet ill.

Rabies

Rabies poses a minor risk to your dog. Ensure that your pet’s rabies vaccinations are up to date to avoid diseases.

Leprosy

Because leprosy is an uncommon and species-specific illness, the canine variant is unlikely to transfer to a dog.

Canine leproid granuloma syndrome (CLGS) is a kind of leprosy that affects dogs. Even yet, despite some cases of leprosy in dogs, it’s still extremely rare.

Dogs that touch armadillos will be alright, but if your dog has swallowed armadillo meat, you should be careful because it is where the rare case occurs.

To summarize, your dog is unlikely to develop leprosy from the armadillo, but you should still consult your vet.

Related: Are Bull Terriers Dangerous?

How To Get Rid Of Armadillos?

We’ve compiled a list of methods you may use to protect your yard while still protecting the animal’s life.

Some of these removal methods can be more successful than others, and some might last for years.

Reduce their food supply

Do you have an armadillo in your backyard that you want to remove? Eliminate its food sources. If it’s hungry, it will look for food elsewhere.

These animals like to eat cockroaches, termites, ants, beetles, and other insects.

Fruits are also their food, making up about 10% of the diet. They find the nutrients of fallen fruits beneficial.

However, this method has some drawbacks. Getting rid of all bugs, worms, and grubs from the soil might cause other issues because plants need these organisms as well.

When armadillos don’t have access to ground food, they may explore your backyard for something else to eat. They will dig even more holes and tunnels.

These holes and tunnels might be a problem for your children playing in the yard or for you when cutting the grass.

Build fence

Although armadillos can climb, a fence may be a good way to keep them away from your house.

There are two options for this purpose: in-ground fence and electric fence.

• In-ground fences

In-ground fences sound great, but those diggers will dig straight below the barrier and into your garden if it isn’t deep enough.

Please keep in mind this rule to solve the problem: the deeper the fence, the better. An 18-inch deep fence helps deter these animals from digging.

Fencing materials will be more expensive for homeowners with a huge perimeter.

• Electric fences

While this fence can keep armadillos out of your yard and off the grass, it’s not good to use it in places where kids or pets are around.

If you still like this idea, a simple three- to four-inch fence off the ground is effective.

You can also install motion-activated fountains and motion-sensing bulbs in hot pots like flower beds or vegetable gardens to frighten the invaders.

This video shows you more ideas to build the fence:

Eliminate their hiding places

Armadillos like to dig holes in places with a protective layer. Brush, rock heaps, and thick grass can help deter these animals from digging.

However, by removing these objects from your yard, you penalize other species’ habitats.

Trap

Baiting is an efficient way to keep armadillos from entering your yard. The difficult part is getting them to identify the trap and approach it.

Armadillos have a hard time finding food sources until they get near to them. So, baiting them from a great distance is not a viable option.

You’ll need to determine the armadillo’s pathways and holes to set up a trap in a position where it is most likely to come across.

For example, you can put traps at an open burrow’s entry or alongside fence barriers where armadillos often travel.

Homeowners who want to lure and catch their armadillos must be careful and keep an eye on their traps.

Leaving the trap there for a long time is dangerous to the animal caught inside.

Use armadillo repellents

Armadillos compensate for their weak vision with a great sense of smell. You can use natural or commercial repellents to attack their senses.

• Natural repellents

Garlic has a pungent odor that can interfere with their ability to smell and can deter them from entering your house.

You can place the crushed garlic cloves where you think armadillos are hiding.

Like garlic, cayenne pepper’s active ingredients may discourage armadillos.

If eaten, capsaicin, a chemical present in cayenne peppers, can trigger abdominal discomfort in animals.

You can sprinkle cayenne powder near the armadillo’s food source. However, the rain may wash it away.

• Commercial repellents

Castor oil in these repellents can spoil this animal’s food supply and generate an awful smell within armadillo tunnels.

The oil is a long-term method for removing a species that relies heavily on scent and only worries about its next meal.

In combination with electrical fences, this method can discourage armadillos from burrowing, scare them away, and keep them at bay.

Call for help

Contacting a pest control expert to build a solution for your specific property is the easiest and most effective method.

Technicians are not only qualified to deal with a variety of pests perfectly, but they also can identify the source of the problem, block burrows, and deter more unwelcome creatures from invading the yard.

FAQ’s

Here are some frequently asked questions about armadillos. You can learn more interesting things after checking the answers.

Do armadillos attack humans?

No, these animals aren’t dangerous to people. They are timid, gentle creatures that focus on defense instead of attack.

Unless they get trapped, they are unlikely to pose a hazard or risk to humans and other animals.

Do armadillos chase you?

No, because they are not aggressive and don’t attack humans. Instead, they run away if they see you. Running is their defense system

What to do if you encounter an armadillo?

Since these animals are good diggers and carry disease, try removing them from your garden as soon as you see them.

They are near-sighted creatures so that you can easily get close to them, catch them in the tail, and lift them off the ground.

Will an armadillo hurt a dog?

Armollios aren’t dangerous to any dog, but they do cause harm in some situations.

They have sharp claws, and they can bite. Moreover, they may spread diseases to other animals, although the chance is low.

Are armadillos blind?

No, they aren’t, but they have very poor eyesight. They mostly use their noses and ears to locate predators and food.

Conclusion

So, are armadillos dangerous to humans and other animals? They don’t attack enemies, but they dig holes and burrows that may destroy your habitat.

Moreover, if the armadillo in your house carries diseases, it will put you at risk.

It would be best to remove any armadillo in your backyard by building a fence, limiting their food source, and using repellents.

Hopefully, we have satisfactorily answered your question. For any further information, please feel free to ask. Thank you for reading.