13 Scents That Drive Armadillos Wild With Disgust!

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There are 21 species of armadillos, of which the nine-banded armadillo is the most common and best known. They’re famous for their bony armor-like shell made of osteoderms.

Armadillos may look like cute little tanks, but they can become a pain if they invade your yard. They are notorious for digging up lawns and gardens for food and can ruin your property. However, they have a secret weakness—they absolutely hate certain smells!

These creatures rely on a strong sense of smell to maneuver, and specific scents can scare them away. Want to protect your garden or yard? Here are 13 smells that armadillos can’t stand and how you can use them to keep these little diggers at bay.

Vinegar

The pungent smell of vinegar instantly turns off Armadillos. Thanks to its strong acidic aroma, which frightens their sensitive noses, vinegar is useful as a natural repellent.

When you find armadillos digging, spray white vinegar around the area or soak rags in vinegar and set them around the yard. Reapply after rain for further effectiveness.

Ammonia

Armadillos dislike sharp chemical odors like ammonia. By all accounts, ammonia is one of the best ways to keep them out of your garden. Just make sure you are careful because ammonia can be harmful to pets and, at times, plants if you overdo it.

Please place cotton balls soaked in ammonia near burrow entrances or along fences to take action. Armadillos will seek new territories with a milder scent.

Cayenne Pepper

Another powerful deterrent is spicy smells like cayenne pepper. Cayenne has a fiery kick, and armadillos’ sensitive noses can’t take it.

Sprinkle it around your yard, especially where they dig. To add extra potency, mix cayenne pepper with water and a little dish soap and spray it in vulnerable places.

Garlic

Armadillos hate the smell of garlic, which is a basic kitchen staple for us. Spread crushed garlic cloves throughout your garden to create a scent wall.

Garlic powder can also be mixed in water to form a spray for larger areas. The bonus is that garlic is completely safe for plants and pets.

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil is another scent with a sharp, minty odor that is very off-putting to armadillos. Spray a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil in water and spray around your property.

The eucalyptus scent will keep armadillos away and also leave your yard smelling fresh and clean.

Coffee Grounds

The strong, b itter smell of coffee grounds nourishes your soil and also repels armadillos. To keep these critters away, sprinkle coffee grounds around the garden beds and where they burrow.

Always reapply for the best results—your yard and your plants will thank you!

Pine Needles

Armadillos also avoid the earthy, sharp smell of pine needles. Put fresh pine needles around your yard — especially where they’ve been digging.

It creates both a scent barrier and a physical one. This is also an eco-friendly way to get armadillos out!

Mothballs

It is a classic repellent for any pest and armadillos, too. Their sensitive nose doesn’t like the strong smell of the chemical.

Mothballs can be placed near burrow entrances or wherever else you want to protect. They are toxic to pets and wildlife, so handle them with caution.

Lemon or Citrus Peels

Lemon and orange peels are simple, natural deterrents because armadillos don’t love citrusy smells. Spray areas where digging is likely to occur with citrus essential oils or scatter fresh peels around your yard.

This will keep armadillos away and smells great, too.

Peppermint Oil

Many pests, including armadillos, dislike peppermint oil; therefore, it can be a good natural repellent. The strong, minty scent overwhelms their noses, so they look elsewhere for food.

Mix a few drops of peppermint oil with water and spray it around your yard.

Onions

Another smell armadillos hate is the sharp, tear-inducing smell of onions. Chopped-up onions spread around the garden should keep these diggers at bay.

Onion powder can also be mixed with water to make a great spray for bigger areas. Armadillos will quickly learn to avoid your yard.

Castor Oil

Castor oil is good for your skin and a powerful armadillo deterrent. It’s a long-term solution because it has a strong, unpleasant smell that lasts for days. In addition, castor oil penetrates deep into the soil, ruining food from armadillos, like insects and grubs.

Spray your yard generously with a mix of castor oil and water. The armadillos will find somewhere else that is less stinky to dig.

Lavender

Lavender is a soothing, fragrant addition to any garden, but armadillos can’t stand the smell. One of the primary compounds in lavender is linalool, which has calming effects on people but is repellant to armadillos.

Planting lavender bushes around your landscaping creates an invigorating natural scent barrier. Using lavender essential oil can also enhance the effect. It’s a win-win: no armadillos and a beautiful yard!

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.