Wounded Armadillo

07.15.2005 - I caught this armadillo, and it had a large wound on its back. The injury looked fairly fresh. I do not know what caused this. Armadillos don't really have any significant predators in the United States. I doubt that this was the work of another animal, such as a coyote or dog. Most likely, this was the result of a collision with a car. Why then, the big cut on the back instead of flattening tiremarks? Because armadillos tend to jump when startled, so perhaps a car passed over the armadillo and it jumped up into the undercarriage of the car and got this injury. Or maybe it was run over by a low-rider vehicle. Of course, it could have been a number of potential sources. Whatever the case, the animal actually seemed fine. It could run around just like any other armadillo. They're tough critters. I suspect that this will heal. Armadillos are common in both Florida and Texas. If you need Florida or Texas armadillo control, click on my link of nationwide trappers for a pro in your area, or browse my site for more trapping tips.

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Armadillo Control In The South - One of the biggest pest animals in the south of the USA and Texas is the armadillo, and this small armored creature can often be a health hazard and cause damage in many yards and gardens. This is why many people will turn to an animal control service to try and deal with their armadillo problem, and there are some experienced armadillo catchers who can help to get rid of the problem. Depending on the laws in your state, these animal removal professionals will be able to catch the offending animal and then either release it or kill it humanely depending on local regulations.

Southern states are usually more severely affected by armadillos as they offer more suitable conditions for these animals that prefer warmer climates and particularly prefer woodland and marshy areas. However, the armadillo population has expanded so much that there are more of these animals coming in to contact with people, and causing them to look for help. There are many people who may expect their local government agency to actually deal with all of the pest animals, but the reality is that most states don?t have the budgets to deal with such animals, meaning that a professional animal control officer is the best option.

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If you have ever stumbled across a wounded armadillo, you might not have known what to do, so you just left it. In many cases, a wounded armadillo will heal on its own and would probably rather prefer to just be left alone. However, if you see it is very badly injured, and you are someone who wants to help an injured animal, you might wonder what to do with the armadillo. Continue reading for a brief overview of how you can take care of an armadillo.

Recovery
One of the most dangerous times you may experience when dealing with a wounded armadillo is the first time you make contact with it. If it is still fairly mobile, it might be startled and try to jump and run away. Always be careful when preparing to pick up an armadillo. Use thick, leather gloves and have a tall and large cardboard or plastic box ready to put it in, as it may be able to jump and get out of the box. Once you have it safely in your vehicle, you have a couple of options.

Animal Rehab Center
One of your best options for helping a wounded armadillo is to simply give it to a wildlife rehabilitation center. If this is an option, it is important to let a wildlife rehab center take it in, as the armadillo will have the best chance of survival with them, not with you. With their years of experience in dealing with wild animals, they are much better suited to care for an armadillo. Not only will they treat its injuries, but they will also help it have a great transition back into the wild. They will slowly reintroduce it to the outdoors and let the armadillo learn how to forage for food again. When the armadillo is finally ready, they will reintroduce it to the wild, and it will have an excellent chance of being able to start over again.

Do-It-Yourself
If it turns out the animal rehab center will not take the armadillo, there is no need to be worried. There are several things that you should keep in mind if you have to do it on your own. Each of these topics will be covered in the following paragraphs.

Feeding
One of the best ways you can feed an armadillo is to give them canned cat food, but also give them insects and other prey, as they will be more likely to transition successfully into the wild.

Foraging
An important consideration to keep in mind is that the armadillo must still remember how to forage for its own food. If it is not able to do this anymore, it will not survive for very long in the wilderness. If you really want to help the armadillo recover, you will have to let it root around in your yard every day.

Water
Armadillos love having access to mud and water, such as ponds and streams. If you have one nearby, allow it to swim around for a while.

Release
If you believe the armadillo has healed to where it will survive, it is quite simple to release them. Pick a good place where there is water, grassy areas, and brush to take shelter in. Simply release the armadillo and let them go off into their new home.