Raccoons,Opossums & Armadillos
Racoons and opossums can be quite a nuisance when they get themselves into garbage cans, eat pet food, getting into attics or under houses, and eating your garden. In Florida, raccoons are a major carrier of rabies too!
Both raccoons and opossums are opportunistic and have adapted fairly well to the urban community. They will eat any plant, insect or other animal food that is easily available. Raccoons have also learned the uncapped chimneys make a very good substitute for a den - which used to be a hollowed out tree den.
More than 90% of the armadillo's diet is made up of insects and their larvae that live in soil. They are nocturnal and their damage can be seen in lawns, vegetable gardens and flower beds. They can cause damage when they burrow under foundations, driveways and other structures.
Both raccoons and opossums are opportunistic and have adapted fairly well to the urban community. They will eat any plant, insect or other animal food that is easily available. Raccoons have also learned the uncapped chimneys make a very good substitute for a den - which used to be a hollowed out tree den.
More than 90% of the armadillo's diet is made up of insects and their larvae that live in soil. They are nocturnal and their damage can be seen in lawns, vegetable gardens and flower beds. They can cause damage when they burrow under foundations, driveways and other structures.
Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)
Live trapping
Unfortunately there are no successful repellents, fumigants or intoxicants for armadillos. We at Ecologix prefer to live-trap.
Methods of control?
Barriers like small fences may be used to keep an armadillo out. They should be about 24 inches high and the bottom of the fence needs to be about 18 inches buried below soil surface. Ideally the fence needs to be slanted outward at about a 40° angle.
Reducing watering and fertilizing your lawn will reduce armadillo damage. A moist lush landscape is perfect for earthworms and insect larvae. Armadillos love earthworms. Sometimes watering adjacent areas may attract armadillos away from a site.
Methods of control?
- creating barriers
- reduce watering and fertilizing lawns
Barriers like small fences may be used to keep an armadillo out. They should be about 24 inches high and the bottom of the fence needs to be about 18 inches buried below soil surface. Ideally the fence needs to be slanted outward at about a 40° angle.
Reducing watering and fertilizing your lawn will reduce armadillo damage. A moist lush landscape is perfect for earthworms and insect larvae. Armadillos love earthworms. Sometimes watering adjacent areas may attract armadillos away from a site.
Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
Garbage can raids may be prevented by using metal or tough plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. If lids do not fit tightly, it may be necessary to wire, weight, or clamp them down. The containers also should be tied to a support or held on a rack to prevent raccoons from tipping them over.
These animals will not be as attracted to your property if you do not leave pet food outside at night. Access to chimneys can be prevented by fastening a commercial cap of sheet metal and hardware cloth over the top of the chimney. These animals can be kept out from underneath houses by sealing off all possible entrances. A good method to determine if the animal is out of the sheltered area is to sprinkle a liberal amount of baking flour near the entrance. Wait until an hour or so after dusk and see if there are any tracks leading out of the entrance. If there are, then seal it off!
If you are still having nuisance wildlife or are in need of immediate assistance, contact us at (727) 487-1987.
Garbage can raids may be prevented by using metal or tough plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. If lids do not fit tightly, it may be necessary to wire, weight, or clamp them down. The containers also should be tied to a support or held on a rack to prevent raccoons from tipping them over.
These animals will not be as attracted to your property if you do not leave pet food outside at night. Access to chimneys can be prevented by fastening a commercial cap of sheet metal and hardware cloth over the top of the chimney. These animals can be kept out from underneath houses by sealing off all possible entrances. A good method to determine if the animal is out of the sheltered area is to sprinkle a liberal amount of baking flour near the entrance. Wait until an hour or so after dusk and see if there are any tracks leading out of the entrance. If there are, then seal it off!
If you are still having nuisance wildlife or are in need of immediate assistance, contact us at (727) 487-1987.