Armadillo Burrows Under Your House: What to Do

If you have fresh dirt mounds, shallow holes, or a tunnel opening near the foundation, you are not looking at random yard damage. Armadillos burrows can run under sheds, patios, and even house slabs, and the digging gets worse fast once they find soft soil and easy food. The fix is not just filling holes, it is stopping the animal from getting back in and removing the conditions that invite more digging.

What Armadillo Burrows Look Like

Armadillo burrow entrances are usually low, wide openings with loose dirt pushed out in a fan or mound. The entrance is often about 7 to 9 inches wide, and the tunnel angles downward into soil that is easy to excavate. In yards, you will also see cone-shaped holes from feeding, torn turf, and disturbed mulch.

When armadillos dig under a house, the burrow can start beside a slab, crawl space vent, porch, or utility opening. The ground above it may sink slightly, crack, or sound hollow when stepped on. If you see fresh soil near a foundation wall, treat it as active digging, not a dead burrow.

Why Armadillos Live in Burrows

How burrows function in their habitat

Armadillos live in burrows because they need shelter, shade, and a safe place to raise young. In their habitat, that means wooded edges, brushy cover, sandy soil, and creek banks where digging is easy. A burrow protects them from heat, predators, and cold nights, and it gives them a place to rest during the day.

That same behavior carries into residential yards. If your property offers loose soil, leaf litter, irrigation, grubs, or cover near the foundation, an armadillo sees it as a ready-made habitat. The burrow is not accidental, it is a deliberate den site.

Why they choose yards and houses

Armadillos burrow where digging is easiest and food is close. They feed on insects, grubs, worms, and other invertebrates found in moist soil. Yards with thick thatch, overwatered beds, and untreated pest lawns become prime targets because the food source keeps them returning.

A house foundation, porch, or slab edge adds structure and cover. That creates a protected burrow entrance and a sheltered path beneath the surface. Once one animal starts digging, the disturbed soil makes the site even easier for the next visit.

How to Stop Armadillos from Digging in Your Yard

The goal is to remove what attracts them and make the site harder to dig. Start with the yard itself, because exclusion works best when the property no longer feels like good habitat.

Reduce grub activity in turf by using a lawn treatment labeled for grub control, applied at the label rate for your grass type and season.

Fix irrigation leaks and stop overwatering, since damp soil draws worms and insects.
Rake up thick leaf litter, brush, and debris along fence lines and foundation edges.
Trim back dense cover so the animal has less concealment near the house.

Keep compost sealed and pet food indoors at night.

If the digging is concentrated in one lawn section, focus on that zone first. Armadillos return to the easiest feeding area, so the fastest way to slow damage is to make that area less productive and less soft underfoot.

Exclusion That Keeps Armadillos Out

Exclusion is the long-term fix for armadillos burrows under houses and along foundations. A surface fence alone does not stop a digger, so the barrier has to go into the ground and angle outward. Use 1/2-inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire with openings small enough to block entry.

For yards and vulnerable foundation edges, install a buried barrier 12 to 18 inches deep and flare the bottom outward another 12 inches. Secure the top to a fence or structure with staples or exterior screws and washers. At crawl spaces, cover vents and openings with rigid hardware cloth framed tightly so there is no loose edge to pry open.

Pay special attention to gaps around porches, AC pads, and utility penetrations. If you leave a 2-inch opening, an armadillo can keep using the same route. Backfill the trench firmly with compacted soil so the animal cannot work around the barrier.

How to Trap an Armadillo Safely

Live trapping works when an active burrow or repeated yard damage shows the animal is still on site. Use a sturdy live cage trap large enough for a medium animal, and place it along the travel path, not directly over the burrow entrance. Armadillos travel with a low body profile, so a trap set against a wall, fence, or edge of damaged turf catches them more reliably.

Pre-bait the trap for 1 to 2 nights with the door wired open if needed, using earthworms, canned cat food, or overripe fruit placed at the back of the trap.

Set the trap level on firm soil and cover the top and sides with a towel, cardboard, or natural cover so it feels like a tunnel.
Check the trap early in the morning and late in the evening.
Wear gloves when handling the trap, then follow your local laws for relocation or disposal.

Do not rely on a trap alone if the burrow entrance remains open. If the site is still attractive, another armadillo can move in quickly.

Preventing Burrows Under the House

If the burrow is under your house, the first priority is to block re-entry after the animal is out. Pack loose openings with soil, then install a buried barrier or heavy gauge mesh across the vulnerable perimeter. Crawl space skirting, lattice, and decorative trim need the same treatment, because soft edges invite digging.

Seal vents with metal screening, and keep the bottom of siding, sheathing, and exterior trim tight to grade. Repair cracked mortar, gaps around pipes, and missing soffit or foundation pieces. For active digging at the slab edge, extend a trench barrier at least 18 inches deep where soil conditions allow, then restore grading so water drains away from the foundation.

Do not leave hollow space under porches or steps accessible. Armadillos prefer a protected, shaded den, and any open cavity can become the next burrow.

When the Damage Needs Professional Help

Call a wildlife control professional if the burrow is under a slab, the tunnel is large enough to cause settling, or you find multiple entrances. The same applies if you cannot safely reach the opening, the animal is trapped under the house, or local rules limit relocation. Structural burrowing is a property problem, not just a nuisance.

If you see cracking, sinking concrete, broken plumbing lines, or repeated digging after exclusion work, bring in help before the damage spreads. The best repair plan combines removal, exclusion, and soil or foundation repair. That is the only way to stop armadillos burrows from returning to the same spot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do armadillos live in burrows all the time?

Yes. Armadillos live in burrows for shelter, rest, and protection. They use them as daytime dens and as safe places near food sources. A single animal can use more than one burrow in an area, which is why one sealed hole does not solve the problem if the yard still offers good habitat.

How deep are armadillos burrows?

The entrance may look shallow, but the tunnel can extend several feet into soil and angle downward. Under structures, the path can run along the foundation or under slabs where it is hard to see. The visible opening is only the start of the damage.

Will filling the hole stop the digging?

No. Filling the opening without exclusion just gives the armadillo a chance to dig again nearby. Remove the animal first, then seal the area with buried hardware cloth, compacted soil, and tight foundation barriers. If the food source stays in place, the digging returns.

What attracts armadillos to a yard?

Grubs, moist soil, loose mulch, leaf litter, and dense cover attract them. They also respond to easy digging near foundations, patios, and crawl spaces. Reducing insects and blocking access are the two fixes that matter most.