So, we have about 5 armadillo living in our backyard, how can I trap and get them out of here? Thanks

Get one of these and bait it with canned dog food. Just hope you don't have any skunks in the area.

Thanks TKC

The key to trapping armadillos is in understanding their behavior. They are nocturnal animals, they live in burrows underground, they dig in the soil for their food (worms and grubs, mostly), they have poor eyesight, they bump into things, and they dig several burrows. That gets us started.

What type of trap catches armadillos? - A live cage trap, raccoon sized, is best. At least 30 inches long, 12 inches high, ten inches wide. There are many fine manufacturers of traps this size. I've tended to go with the Havahart 1079. I've heard people say that armadillos are so tough that they damage this trap, but that's hogwash. I've caught hundreds of armadillos in these traps, and don't see any drawbacks to this model. But other models will do too, I'm sure.

What type of bait catches armadillos? - Ah, this is a big question. People want to know what food catches armadillos. Well, it doesn't work that way. There is absolutely no bait to trap armadillos, This animal only eats food that it digs out of the ground. It will not eat any food lying on the surface, or in a cage. In fact, it's bad to try to use armadillo trap bait, because other non-target animals like raccoons, opossums, skunks, or stray cats will go for it. I've heard many superstitious people tell me all kinds of stupid baits, from rotten cabbage to bananas to pantyhose filled with earthworms, but I guarantee that none of these work. They hurt more than help. The only thing, I think, that MAY help at all, as an armadillo lure, and it's a big IF, is actually the scent of another armadillo, so a used trap that's already caught armadillos may be a slight advantage. But 99% of it is in the trap location and setup, as discussed below.

Where should I set the trap? - Aha, now we're getting somewhere. It's ALL about trap placement and location. Armadillos travel on certain pathways. They relate to objects and edges in certain ways. When I get to a property, I can see the trails they make, no matter how subtle. And armadillos dig several burrows. They often have about 30 burrows in a home range, and they roam, and share burrows. Most of the burrows are actually just small escape burrows, only a few feet into the ground. They do not have many large nesting and sleeping burrows, maybe just one. But they visit these small burrows all the time, and dig them a little deeper here and there, and an escape burrow is never too far from reach. So of you can find a main burrow, that's the best bet for frequent visiting, but any burrow is good. Just set the trap right on the pathway to the burrow, or even right on top of a burrow with no dillo inside! And if one is inside, it'll just push the trap out of the way, no big deal.

What other factors contribute to successful armadillo trapping? - There are lots of little things, thing I do by second nature now and don't even realize. Of course, make sure that the trap is set flat, and flush to the ground. If it rattles or wobbles, the animal might not go in. Make sure that the trigger pan is free of debris, and the connecting bar. Give the animal a clear line of site for entry. I sometimes use wooden blocks to steer the animal in for the last foot or so. I sometimes line the bottom of the trap with some debris, like plant material. I make sure the trap doesn't have any bad scents. I set the pan tension pretty high, to prevent misfires from outside bumping - the animal is definitely heavy enough to trigger the trap once inside. I don't know, there's a ton of little things I do, and that's the reason I went from barely catching any armadillos , to a near perfect capture rate now.

had the best luck placing trap along fence line

Good info above. I own a pest control company and have trapped many an armadillo. Find that burrow, and take a couolw 2x4s and "funnel" them from the burrow to the trap door. Easy.

Impressive first post, Darrell!

What Darrell said. x 2

Good read, Thanks Darrell