The nine-banded armadillo with its armored protective shell is designated as the state small mammal of Texas. This unique creature is primarily nocturnal, with a healthy appetite for grub worms and other insects and small invertebrates for nourishment. These mammals have strong, sharp claws perfect for digging and burrowing in their quest for food and shelter. Armadillos are known for having multiple burrows. They sometimes sleep up to 16 hours a day, with most of their foraging for food in the evening or early morning. Their eyesight is poor, but their well-developed sense of smell helps them hone in on food sources. Armadillos are common in Arlington and because of their damage to lawns when digging, they are sometimes thought of as a nuisance by homeowners.

The average armadillo in Arlington is about the size of a cat, weighing less than 20 pounds. Texas Parks & Wildlife states that the birth of armadillo offspring occurs in March and April and that a single fertile egg produces a set of four identical quadruplets born into a burrow with shells that do not harden until adulthood.

Armadillos are difficult to trap, and if removed will only create a vacuum effect for others to come in. The lasting solution to eliminate an armadillo presence is to take away their food source. Beneficial Nematodes are a natural way to kill the grubs living in the soil that attract armadillos.

Reference sources: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and 911 Wildlife

View Map of Wildlife Sightings

Click on the arrow tab to view the legend, and scroll in to view an area of interest for locations of reported wildlife sightings.

Report an Armadillo Sighting

More About Armadillos

More Information