Armadillo season is just around the corner in Middle Tennessee, and if you’ve never dealt with one of these armored diggers before, you’re in for a surprise. Every year as temperatures climb through June and July, armadillo activity surges across Nashville and surrounding areas — and homeowners start noticing the damage seemingly overnight. Knowing what to look for and when to call for help can save your lawn, your garden, and a lot of frustration. Here’s everything you need to know heading into armadillo season.
Why Armadillo Season Peaks in June and July
Armadillos are warm-weather animals. As Middle Tennessee heats up through late spring and into summer, insects and grubs become more active just beneath the surface of your lawn — and that’s exactly what armadillos are after. Their long claws and powerful digging ability let them tear through soft, moist soil in seconds, and a well-watered Nashville lawn in June is basically an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Summer also coincides with armadillo breeding and raising young, which means a single armadillo visiting your yard can quickly become a family operation. Once they find a reliable food source near your home, they’ll return night after night.
Signs You Have an Armadillo Problem
Armadillos are nocturnal, so you may never actually see one — but you’ll definitely see what they leave behind. Watch for:
- Shallow holes and torn-up turf — Armadillos dig small, cone-shaped holes 3–5 inches deep as they root for grubs and insects. You might find dozens scattered across your yard overnight.
- Damage along flower beds and garden borders — They love to dig along the edges of mulched beds and garden borders where soil is loose and insects are plentiful.
- Burrows near structures — Armadillos sometimes dig larger burrows near the base of trees, fences, decks, or foundations. These can undermine roots and even cause structural issues over time.
- Disturbed soil near your HVAC unit or crawlspace — They’re drawn to the warmth and shelter these areas provide.
If you’re seeing any of these signs, chances are an armadillo has already claimed your yard as its territory.
Why DIY Armadillo Removal Is Harder Than It Looks
A lot of homeowners try to handle armadillo problems on their own — and most of them call us anyway a few weeks later. Here’s why DIY usually falls short:
Trapping is tricky. Armadillos have poor eyesight and don’t respond well to traditional bait. Placing a trap in the wrong location or without proper guidance channels almost guarantees you’ll catch nothing. Professional wildlife technicians know exactly how to read armadillo behavior and set traps for success.
Repellents are mostly ineffective. Despite what you might read online, armadillos have a poor sense of smell compared to other wildlife. Most store-bought repellents provide little to no lasting deterrent.
They come back. Even if you successfully remove one armadillo, without addressing the conditions that attracted it — grub-heavy lawn, loose soil, easy food access — another one will move in quickly.
How Birdman Handles Armadillo Removal
At Birdman Wildlife Solutions, we use a combination of targeted trapping, behavioral assessment, and habitat modification to resolve armadillo problems completely — not just temporarily.
Our process:
- Property inspection — We identify active digging areas, burrow sites, and entry/travel patterns to understand exactly how the armadillo is moving through your property.
- Strategic trap placement — We use humane live traps positioned along natural travel corridors for maximum effectiveness.
- Humane relocation — Once captured, armadillos are safely relocated far from residential areas in compliance with Tennessee wildlife regulations.
- Prevention recommendations — We’ll walk you through specific steps to make your property less attractive to future armadillo activity, including lawn treatment timing, barrier options, and landscaping adjustments.
Don’t Wait Until the Damage Is Done
The biggest mistake Nashville homeowners make with armadillos is waiting too long. A single armadillo can dig 40–50 holes in a single night during peak summer activity. The longer you wait, the more damage accumulates — and the harder the lawn is to recover.
If you’re already seeing signs of armadillo activity, or you just want to get ahead of the season before it starts, give us a call now.