Polk County Wildlife
Waking up to fresh cone-shaped holes punched across your Polk County lawn, or a collapsed flower bed overnight? That’s almost always the nine-banded armadillo rooting for grubs in Central Florida’s sandy soil. They don’t bite, but they wreck turf, undermine slabs, and dig burrows fast. Here’s how licensed removal works here.
Why armadillos love Polk County yards
The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) thrives in exactly the conditions Polk County offers: loose, sandy, well-drained soil that’s easy to dig, and a humid subtropical climate that keeps grubs, beetle larvae, and earthworms near the surface year-round. An armadillo can’t see well and hunts almost entirely by smell, punching dozens of shallow cone-shaped holes a night as it roots for those invertebrates. The damage looks like someone went across your lawn with a bulb planter. Cone-shaped foraging holes are sometimes confused with the dome-shaped mounds of fire ant colonies, which are a very different pest with a very different fix — see our page on fire ant control in Mulberry, FL if stinging insects, not digging, are the issue.
The damage that brings homeowners to this page
- Cone-shaped foraging holes 1–3 inches deep scattered across turf, flower beds, and mulch
- Uprooted plants and sod flipped overnight as they chase grubs under the root zone
- Burrows 7–10 inches wide dug against foundations, under sheds, AC pads, and concrete slabs — these can undermine structures over time
Because the digging is grub-driven, a heavy armadillo problem often signals a heavy grub problem. A licensed company may flag whether lawn pest pressure is feeding the activity. Homeowners sometimes mistake armadillo craters for a different lawn-digging culprit — raised, continuous ridges rather than scattered cone-shaped holes usually point to moles instead; see our guide on mole damage to Lakeland lawns for how to tell the two apart.
Why DIY armadillo control usually fails
Repellents and home remedies rarely move an armadillo that’s found a reliable food source. They’re nocturnal, range widely, and simply dig elsewhere. Florida classifies them as a nuisance species; the reliable fix is targeted live-trapping along travel routes and burrow entrances by someone who knows their pattern — then sealing the burrow once it’s confirmed empty.
How licensed removal works
A licensed wildlife operator reads the property first: active burrows, fence-line travel paths, and the freshest digging. Traps are placed and funneled along those routes (armadillos won’t chase bait the way a raccoon will, so placement matters more than lure). After removal, the company checks that burrows are inactive before backfilling and can recommend grub treatment and barrier adjustments so the next armadillo doesn’t simply inherit the buffet. For other digging-and-denning wildlife, see our Lakeland wildlife removal page.
Polk County armadillo FAQs
Are armadillos dangerous to my family or pets?
They don’t bite or attack and generally flee, but they can carry the bacterium that causes leprosy (Hansen’s disease), so handling one bare-handed isn’t advised. Let a licensed operator trap and remove it. The bigger practical risk is structural — burrows under slabs and foundations.
Why is an armadillo digging up my Polk County lawn?
It’s hunting grubs, beetle larvae, and earthworms that sit near the surface in our sandy, humid soil. Heavy armadillo activity often points to a heavy grub population, so treating the lawn pests can reduce the draw.
Do repellents or home remedies actually work on armadillos?
Rarely. They’re nocturnal and driven by a reliable food source, so they dig elsewhere rather than leave. Targeted live-trapping along burrows and travel routes by a licensed company is the dependable fix.
Can armadillo burrows damage my house?
Yes. Burrows dug against foundations, AC pads, driveways, and slabs can wash out and undermine those structures over time, especially after heavy Polk County rains. Active burrows near the home should be addressed promptly.
How long does removal take?
It varies with how predictable the animal’s route is. Some are trapped within a few nights; a wide-ranging individual can take longer. A licensed operator sets traps along active paths and monitors until the property is clear.
Last reviewed June 2026 · reviewed on a quarterly cycle. Lakeland Exterminators is a dispatch and matching service for common household pests and does not perform armadillo service.
Disclaimer: Lakeland Exterminators is a local dispatch and referral service, not a licensed pest-control operator. We connect Polk County, Florida homeowners with independent, FDACS-licensed and insured pest-control companies. All inspections and treatments are performed by those independent providers, who set their own pricing, scheduling, and service terms.
Any reference to same-day, emergency, or 24/7 service describes the typical scheduling of matched independent providers and is not guaranteed; actual response times vary by provider, season, location, and demand.