These iconic Texas critters do nice things for us, so if they root up the yard a bit maybe it is a good trade. Holes in the grass are made as armadillos dig up grubs and other insects. Armadillos give birth in spring, always producing identical quadruplets. They are very near-sighted; if you startle one, armadillos leap straight up into the air. Rarely, they can carry leprosy. They are not territorial and are prone to wander. Armadillos are sensitive to smell, so to send them on their way, put out rags soaked in vinegar, ammonia, or pine cleaner. Another option is treating your yard with beneficial nematodes; these non-segmented worms attack the grubs and insects that armadillos eat.
