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Armadillo Removal in Tuscaloosa
An armadillo can turn a good lawn over in a single night, and the burrows go under concrete.
Armadillos are established across this part of Alabama and the damage shows up first as cone-shaped diggings in the lawn. On rental and multi-unit property the lawn is usually the landlord’s problem and the burrow under the slab or the AC pad definitely is, which is again worth sorting out before the digging becomes undermining.
Armadillos in Tuscaloosa County: who does what
Alabama’s wildlife division does not remove nuisance wildlife from private property unless public safety is at risk. It permits Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators to do it instead, and the state’s own wording is that they do so at the landowner’s or tenant’s expense. In a city where a very large share of the housing is rented, that last phrase is not academic; it is the argument that delays the job while the animal keeps chewing, so settle who is paying early.
For identifying an animal or damage before anyone is paid to look, the Alabama Cooperative Extension, Tuscaloosa County office is at 1800 McFarland Blvd E #342, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404, (205) 349-4630 (office page).
What Alabama law says about armadillos
Alabama Extension reported in 2019 that armadillos had spread to 59 of the state’s 67 counties, missing only the rocky northeast. It also notes that no toxicants, fumigants or repellents are registered for them, and that local rules on discharging firearms may rule out shooting one. All Alabama rules →
Sources: Alabama Extension: controlling armadillo damage; Outdoor Alabama, Nuisance Animal Control. Checked October 2026.
Signs, and why they matter
- Dozens of shallow cone-shaped holes across the lawn, appearing overnight
- Lifted or rolled-back turf where they have rooted for grubs
- A burrow entrance about 7–10 inches wide beside a slab, driveway or foundation
- Burrows undermining driveways, patios, slabs and foundation edges
- Repeated and expensive lawn damage
How removal works
Armadillos are poor candidates for bait trapping; they are after live grubs, not bait. Removal relies on directional trapping along travel routes and burrow entrances, then exclusion fencing dug in and angled outward.
Armadillo questions
How much does armadillo removal cost in Tuscaloosa?
$250 – $550 typical, depending on access and whether young are present. After a long stay in an attic the cleanup is often the bigger bill (attic restoration).
Is there a wrong time of year to deal with armadillos?
Year-round in the Deep South, worst in warm wet spells when grubs are near the surface.
Request a quote
We read every request and pass it to a licensed wildlife operator covering Tuscaloosa where one is available. We are still building our list of operators here, so we cannot promise one is available or say how quickly they will respond.