Conical holes 3-5 inches deep across the lawn
Classic armadillo foraging. A heavily hit yard can have dozens of holes after a single night.
The Burrowing Mammal That Digs Up Lowcountry Lawns
Armadillo Removal in Mount Pleasant, SC
Year-round in coastal SC; most active foraging April through October
Short answer
Nine-banded armadillos are well-established throughout South Carolina and are expanding their range northward. They dig in search of soil insects and grubs, producing cone-shaped holes 3-5 inches deep across lawns and garden beds. A single armadillo can dig dozens of holes in one night. They also burrow under foundations and outbuildings.
Know the signs
Signs to look for
What normally prompts the call.
Disturbed mulch and rooted-up garden beds
Armadillos forage through mulched beds in search of beetles, earthworms, and grubs.
A burrow entrance 7-8 inches wide under a deck or foundation
Active armadillo burrow. Burrowing under foundations and slabs is a structural concern if the burrow enlarges.
The local reason behind it
Armadillos have expanded their range northward through South Carolina over the past three decades and are now common in Charleston County. The Lowcountry's sandy, moist soil is easy to dig and hosts the soil insects armadillos prefer.
Properties near wooded edges, golf courses, and open green space provide foraging range and the warm, moist soil conditions armadillos seek.
The licensed pros we connect you with see burrowing damage most in Mount Pleasant's low-lying lots, where grubs and earthworms stay near the surface after rain and give armadillos a reason to dig along foundations and flower beds. Calls follow a similar pattern out toward West Ashley, where lawns near Church Creek and Rantowles Creek hold the same soft, root-heavy soil, and around Hanahan, where turf bordering the Goose Creek reservoir stays damp enough to draw the same nightly digging.
The same burrowing pattern shows up further inland, where the licensed pros we connect you with take calls out toward Ladson, near the Highway 78 corridor and College Park Road, and even out to Moncks Corner, close to Mepkin Abbey and Biggin Creek. Sandy, well-drained lots along those routes make for easy digging, and armadillos root through mulch beds and lawn edges hunting grubs and earthworms, leaving the same shallow trenches and upturned soil homeowners in Mount Pleasant find near their foundations and flower beds.
Beyond Mount Pleasant itself, the same digging shows up wherever raised construction meets sandy soil, and the licensed pros we connect you with cover that wider footprint too, from Isle of Palms lots near Breach Inlet and the IOP Marina to the distribution and manufacturing sites strung along Ladson Road, and even out toward Moncks Corner, where cleared ground near Old Santee Canal Park gives armadillos the same easy tunneling.
Common enough across Charleston County — Hanahan, Folly Beach and Park West included.
Key facts
- Species
- Nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)
- Size
- 10-17 lbs; 15-17 inch body with bony armor
- Digging
- Cone-shaped holes 3-5 inches deep; digs for grubs, beetles, and earthworms
- Burrows
- Can excavate burrows up to 25 feet long under foundations and outbuildings
- Nocturnal
- Primarily active at night
- Season
- Year-round in coastal SC; most active foraging April through October
- Typical treatment
- an estimated $189–$549
The look-alike worth ruling out
Mole damage. Mole damage produces raised ridges and soft tunnels. Armadillo damage is distinct conical holes and divots, usually 3-5 inches wide and deep, scattered across the lawn. Armadillo burrow entrances are 7-8 inches wide.
The treatment, step by step
Exclusion fencing (hardware cloth buried 12 inches below grade) around priority areas like gardens and foundation perimeter
Live trap placement along armadillo travel paths
Grub treatment to reduce soil insect food source
Removal and relocation in compliance with SC DNR regulations
The honest split is simple: contained and caught early is a single visit; recurring outdoor pressure is a plan.
| The case | Usually the right call |
|---|---|
| A single active problem, found early | Single visit |
| Something that keeps reappearing | Recurring plan |
| A problem in wall voids, an attic or a crawl space | Treatment, then closing the way in |
The regulatory side
Armadillos are not native to South Carolina and are not protected wildlife. They may be trapped and relocated or humanely dispatched. Contact SC DNR for current guidance on relocation distances.
The damage and the clean-up
Lawn and garden damage from digging can be significant after a single night. Foundation burrows are the more serious concern — a burrow under a slab or footer that enlarges can affect structural integrity. Garden beds, irrigation lines, and underground utilities are also at risk from digging.
The homeowner side of it
Live trapping with a box trap is effective for armadillos. Place the trap along their regular travel path (they follow the same routes repeatedly). Armadillos have poor eyesight and are easily funneled into a trap with boards on each side. Check SC DNR regulations for relocation.
Is it a health risk?
Armadillos are the only non-human carrier of Mycobacterium leprae (leprosy) in the wild. The risk of transmission through normal contact is extremely low, but armadillos should not be handled without gloves and should not be kept as pets. Wash hands thoroughly after any contact.
What to budget
armadillos typically runs an estimated $189 to $549 around Mount Pleasant. The inspection costs nothing and the real number goes in writing before anyone starts. Estimated bands, and what pushes a job up or down them, are set out on the pricing guide, and the service that handles this is Wildlife Removal.
Related
Other calls we take
Moles and Voles
Two Different Pests, Two Different Lawn Damage Patterns. Moles and voles are often confused because both damage lawns, but they are unrelated animals with different diets and different damage patterns.
Raccoons
Strong, Dexterous, and Destructive in Attics and Chimneys. Raccoons are the most destructive common wildlife pest in the Lowcountry.
Snakes
Six Venomous Species in Coastal South Carolina. South Carolina has six venomous snake species: copperhead, cottonmouth (water moccasin), eastern diamondback rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, eastern coral snake, and pygmy rattlesnake.
Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the same armadillo keep coming back?
Armadillos are creatures of habit and follow established travel paths repeatedly. A lawn with good grub availability will be revisited. Trap placement along the exact travel route is key — armadillos navigate by smell and follow the same corridor night after night.
How do I protect my garden from armadillos?
Hardware cloth buried 12 inches below grade and extending 18 inches above ground is the most reliable exclusion for a garden bed. They can climb low barriers, so the underground portion matters more than the above-ground height.
Can armadillos cause real structural damage?
Yes, if they burrow under a foundation or slab. A single armadillo burrow under a perimeter footer can undermine the footing over time as the burrow is extended and widened. Burrows near foundations should be addressed promptly.
Get Started Today
Dealing with armadillos right now?
A free inspection settles what it is and how far it has gone. Call and we will connect you with a licensed local pro.
Call (843) 868-3211