Armadillos are prolific burrowers, a behavior fundamental to nearly every aspect of their survival. They rely heavily on excavating soil to find food and to create permanent shelters. Armadillos spend a significant portion of their lives underground, and their ability to dig quickly dictates their success across their expanding geographic range. The distinct differences between their deep, permanent burrows and the shallow holes created during foraging activity illustrate the two primary functions of their digging.
Physical Adaptations for Digging
The armadillo possesses specialized anatomical features that transform it into a highly effective digging machine. Their forelimbs are equipped with long, powerful claws, particularly on the middle toes, which function to loosen compacted soil. Robust shoulder and chest muscles support the limb structure, providing the strength to move large volumes of earth rapidly.
As the animal digs, the thick, bony plates of its carapace, or armor shell, protect its body from abrasion. The armadillo uses its forelimbs to scratch away soil and then kicks the loosened material backward with its hind limbs, efficiently clearing the tunnel path. This combination of armor, claws, and powerful biomechanics allows them to quickly burrow, a behavior classified as “scratch-digging.”
Constructing Permanent Shelter
The construction of a permanent, multi-functional home burrow is crucial for the armadillo’s survival. These shelters are used for nesting, raising young, and thermoregulation. Since armadillos have low metabolic rates, the consistent temperature deep underground provides a refuge from the summer heat and the winter cold.
A single armadillo may maintain five to twelve burrows across its home range, though one will serve as the main dwelling. These permanent tunnels are extensive, often measuring between 7 to 15 feet in length. The burrow entrance typically leads to a large chamber used for sleeping, which the animal may line with dried leaves and plant materials carried in its forelegs.
Identifying Armadillo Burrows
Permanent armadillo burrows can be identified by their distinct size and location. The entrance is typically a round or slightly oval hole, averaging 6 to 10 inches in diameter, just wide enough to accommodate the armadillo’s armored body. The entrance often has a noticeable apron of loose, excavated soil fanned out immediately outside the opening.
Armadillos prefer to locate their shelters near objects that offer structural support and concealment. Homeowners often find these burrow entrances:
Alongside foundation lines
Under dense brush
Beneath large rocks
Next to concrete structures like sidewalks and decks
The subterranean tunnel itself can extend up to 5 feet deep. While most burrows are simple, they may feature multiple entrances to allow for quick escape if a predator enters the primary opening.
Foraging Behavior: Shallow Digging for Food
Armadillos engage in frequent digging for the purpose of foraging. These are not burrows but small, shallow, conical-shaped pits created as the animal searches for its primary diet of insects, grubs, and other invertebrates. Relying heavily on their acute sense of smell, they dig rapidly to unearth prey detected just beneath the soil surface.
These feeding holes are the most common sign of armadillo activity in lawns and gardens, distinct from the larger, structural burrows. A foraging pit is usually only 1 to 3 inches wide and up to 6 inches deep, often appearing as if a small, sharp instrument has probed the ground. The constant excavation of these small depressions can cause widespread soil disturbance across an area as the armadillo moves along a path in search of its next meal.