Armadillo Removal

When most people think of armadillos, they usually assume that they are related to rodents or even marsupials, but they are one of just three animals that belong to the superorder Xenarthra, which is Latin for “strange joint,” along with anteaters and sloths. They are a unique mammal that should be handled with care, as several species of these weird-looking but pesky critters have already gone extinct.

A common belief about these insectivores is that they are all able to curl up into a ball for protection. While their name does translate from Spanish as “little armored one,” there is only one species, the La Plata three-banded, that can curl up into a complete ball. While these bony plates do protect the other types, they use large, agile front claws to dig their way to safety or dash off at 30 miles per hour when threatened.

While there are twenty species of armadillo in existence, only one can be found as far north as Florida, and that is the nine-banded. Usually measuring between about 9.4 to 22.6 inches, these funky-looking creatures typically have little to no hair on their upper bodies, and patchy, short yellowish hair on the underside that they use to feel what they’re walking on, similar to a cat’s whiskers. Because they have terrible eyesight and hearing, they rely on these hairs and their powerful sense of smell to get by.

They can smell things up to eight inches underground. Their shell-like bodies can be anything from a murky brown to an off-white. Despite their name, their backs can have from six to eleven movable ridges. Underneath the shell a strong body and powerful legs that allow them to jump up to three or four feet high when startled. This lends to them frequently seen as roadkill.

Sometimes it can be hard to tell if you got a few of these sneaks on your property, they are nocturnal for the most part, sleeping up to 16 hours a day. During tough times when not much food is available, they’ll forage during the day. Oddly enough, they don’t seem to be naturally scared of people. Armadillos are also surprisingly strong swimmers, able to hold their breath for minutes at a time, so don’t be surprised if they make a run for the nearest lake or canal to escape being caught. They can traverse water in two different ways, either filling their body and intestines with air and floating across or letting the air out and using their claws to walk across the bottom. Keep your distance while they’re on land, however, as they have been known to carry leprosy, a potentially deadly disease.

Armadillos can tear up your yard and be an absolute nightmare if you’ve got a good-looking garden. Luckily for South Florida residents, All Nix Services has what you need to have an insect-and-critter-free property. With results that speak for themselves and an excellent reputation, we’re the call you want to make when you’re being invaded by pests. Contact us at All Nix Services today for a free estimate.