Pests/Ctrl Critter Help - Something Digging up My Garden

BenIan

BenIan

Veteran Member
I live in the Deep South so my garden has been in the ground since early February. I'm harvesting wax beans and peas and and some hot peppers have tomatoes almost ripe. I have something that is digging up my garden. It was just a couple of holes here and there and also several holes out in the yard. This morning however, I walked out to find large areas of the vegetable garden dug up. From what I can tell so far I only lost a couple of okra plants and a sunflower and had several onions dug up. None of the plants have been eaten. It just looks like what ever is digging is looking for bugs, worms, etc. My garden is right up against some woods and I have seen the following creatures on my property: raccoon, possum, armadillo, rabbit, coyote, cats, squirrels, and moles. My working theory is that it is an armadillo. I've ruled out rabbit because no plants are getting eaten (including ripe strawberries and tomatoes right next to the digging), I've ruled out squirrels because the digging is just to large. What are y'alls theories for what this could be?

Also, next question. How do wipe this scourge from the face of the earth. I'm open to all options, including weapons of mass destruction, bounty hunters, experimental laser technology, lightsabers, guillotines, etc.

Also, inb4 fencing. It is not practical/feasible for me to fence the area in question. Thanks.
 
S

summerthyme

Administrator
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Amarillo was my first thought, even though we never see them this far north. Sorry, no idea what to do, except sit up at night in back of a couple motion activated lights and blast him to Armadillo Heaven... I think even a subsonic .22 would work if sound/shooting is an issue in your neighborhood.

Summerthyme
 
BenIan

BenIan

Veteran Member
Shooting is not an issue and I intend to send him to his 72 armadillo virgins as soon as I see him. I've read that cayenne sprinkled around the garden might help and that they hate the smell of vinegar. So I'm going to try that. There are two holes in the woods right behind my property that I suspect may be a den. I'm going to assail those as well to see if I can flush him out.
 
F

FireDance

TB Fanatic
I wouldn’t even bother with the “smelly” stuff. Those bloody things can ravage a very large area in a short time and often return to the same place over and over.

Shoot the thing and get it over with. Try not to get it all over the place.

Oh if you attempt to chase one it will come after you. If you can do that and get it away from everything WITHOUT FALLING IN ONE OF THE HOLES it’s dug then I might try that. (Or get someone you don’t like to do that part.)

I DO know they will chase you and they are fast. A lot faster than they look.

THIS NEXT PART I DO NOT KNOW: supposedly they have very poor eyesight and are simply following you by ground vibrations when they run after you.

But yes, it will be back after sunset tonight. I typically see ours after 8p CDT. And often it’s late at night. You just have to be willing to sit awhile and wait. I would try to pick out a spot that is suitable to shoot from, set up a table and chair there so I could wait. If you’re even relatively quiet it will come pretty close. I have even had one start up the steps with me sitting right there. Oh and bring a shovel to throw it in the road with.

But seriously, try not to blow crap everywhere.

Look on YouTube to see if anyone has hints on how to do this. IF the vibration thing is true, you could move it to wherever you want so you DON’T BLOW CRAP EVERYWHERE. Sorry, I am picturing roadkills and all the nice flies you’d have to fight. Those bodies don’t really go away quickly. lol

Good luck.
 
Grouchy Granny

Grouchy Granny

Deceased
Well, I have squirrels burying peanuts in my raised beds (thank you NOT so thoughtful neighbor for feeding them to the little monsters) and then digging them up later.

Not to mention my lawn! Have holes all over there they've buried their treats.
 
BenIan

BenIan

Veteran Member
There are several squirrels scurrying around that are going to meet their maker soon as well...right after they meet my stew pot. Once I knock off work for today I think I'll throw a flaming branch of dead leaves down the hole and hope it doesn't turn into a "hold my beer" moment. I'll report back afterwards...if I survive.
 
Marie

Marie

Veteran Member
Oh yea we shot a skunk several months ago and unfortunately by our door. But he was gonna spray the dogs so we had no choice.
 
BenIan

BenIan

Veteran Member
No success with smoke in the hole. Son and I tried to rig up a trap. Just walked out there at 11:30 and no sign of new digging. We’ll see in the morning.
 
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