Stephen Van Tassel, Wildlife Control consultant, discusses an article about armadillos, expressing his fascination with these creatures and their potential for causing damage. He highlights that while he hasn't personally dealt with armadillo control, those in the southern states have the opportunity to address the issues caused by them. Armadillos can be destructive to people's turf and ground nesting birds, which is a concern for hunting camps and private hunting parks in the South. He briefly mentions the potential health risks associated with armadillos, including Chagas disease and leprosy, cautioning listeners to handle them carefully.

The main topic of the episode revolves around an alternative but promising method for capturing armadillos, which Stephen Van Tassel discovered in an article by David L. Bergman, Robert D. Blewett, and Alan R. Tipton. He outlines the existing methods for capturing armadillos, such as capturing them by hand or using a hand net, baited cage traps, drift nets, fences with cage traps, and footholds where legal. He then introduces the unique method called the "dogs and trap combo," which involves training dogs to locate active armadillo burrows. The dogs are trained similarly to those used for capturing raccoons, and their task is to identify holes occupied by armadillos or corner the armadillos for capture.

Stephen Van Tassel describes the specific conditions under which the dog and trap method works best, including temperature (between 70 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit), humidity (over 50 percent), and partly to fully overcast skies. He emphasizes the importance of ensuring the dogs do not overheat during the process. He also mentions that the researchers found dusk and nightfall to be the most effective times for armadillo searches. While this method is primarily useful for large landscape areas, he suggests that wildlife control operators with dogs may consider training their dogs for armadillo capture to enhance their services.

To illustrate the process visually, Stephen Van Tassel explains that the trained dog locates an active armadillo burrow, and the trapper then sets a large trap, preferably 42 inches or larger, near the hole. A 12-inch tall fence made of 1x2 mesh is anchored around the trap and the hole to guide the armadillo into the trap. The researchers used a one-door cage trap, but Stephen Van Tassel suggests that a two-door trap might be more effective. He mentions that armadillos were not prone to digging underneath the fence. Overall, the researchers experienced success with this method, losing only one armadillo due to a fence not properly secured to the ground.

Stephen Van Tassel concludes by noting that the dog and trap combo method may be particularly useful during winter when temperatures are more suitable for both dogs and armadillos. He encourages wildlife control operators to consider incorporating this method if they encounter large-scale armadillo removal jobs, as it may lead to quicker and more efficient results. He invites feedback and further discussion on the topic, expressing gratitude for the support and engagement of his audience.

#Armadillos #WildlifeControl #DogsAndTraps #CapturingArmadillos #WildlifeManagement #ArmadilloDamageManagement #DogTraining #TrappingTechnique #EffectiveCapture #AlternativeMethods

 

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE

Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC

Blog: https://wildlifecontrolconsultant.com/

Papers: https://kingsdivinity.academia.edu/StephenMVantassel

Podcasts: https://pestgeekpodcast.com/stephen-vantassel/

Phone: 406-272-5323 Mtn Time

Helping people resolve conflicts with wildlife through teaching, training, writing, and research

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