Most visitors never meet most of this. Florida is a big state and its wildlife changes a lot from region to region - a cane toad is a South Florida backyard problem, a black bear is a central and north Florida one, and a crocodile only matters in the far south. These guides are here for the encounter you do have, not because one is likely.
Armadillos are not dangerous animals, but they are a bad thing for a dog to catch. They dig, scratch and bite when grabbed, they are a known carrier of the bacterium behind Hansen’s disease (leprosy), and they can carry other germs your dog does not need. Do not let your dog chase, corner or mouth one, alive or dead, and be ready for them on night walks – that is when they are out.
How armadillos ended up in every Florida county
The nine-banded armadillo is not originally a Florida animal. It is native to southwestern North America, and it reached Florida two ways: its native range expanded east on its own, and, according to FWC, people introduced armadillos on the Atlantic coast starting in the 1920s. UF/IFAS now describes them as found in every Florida county, and they are widely regarded as naturalized.
An adult is about the size of a house cat: 15 to 17 inches long, not counting the tail, and 8 to 17 pounds, covered in a hard grayish-brown shell. They eat mostly insects and larvae, along with earthworms, scorpions, spiders, snails and the odd small vertebrate or egg. That diet is why they dig.
Where and when your dog will meet one
Armadillos like forested or semi-open land with loose, sandy soil that is easy to dig. In practice that means lawns, flower beds, mulch, wooded edges, parks, roadsides, rural properties and suburban yards – in other words, the vacation rental’s backyard. A single armadillo can keep several burrows with multiple entrances, so a yard with one hole often has more.
UF/IFAS describes them as mainly nocturnal, though in cold weather they may switch to being active in the warmest part of the day. So in summer, expect them after dark; on a chilly winter afternoon, do not be surprised to see one rooting around in daylight.
They also have poor eyesight, which is why an armadillo will sometimes shuffle right up to you and your dog before noticing either of you. When one is startled, it leaps straight up into the air and then bolts for the nearest burrow. That jump is a big reason so many end up as roadkill: UF/IFAS notes they often leap into the path of oncoming vehicles. It is also exactly the kind of sudden movement that sets a dog off.
What happens when a dog catches one
Armadillos are not predators and will not come after your dog. But a dog that corners or grabs one gets a fight from strong digging claws, and a struggling armadillo can scratch hard and bite defensively.
Disease is the bigger concern. FWC says armadillos can carry St. Louis encephalitis, leptospires, arboviruses and leprosy.
Hansen’s disease (leprosy)
The nine-banded armadillo is the only free-living animal in North America besides humans known to be naturally infected with Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium that causes Hansen’s disease. The CDC says some armadillos in the southern United States carry it, and while they may be able to spread it to people, the risk is very low and most people who come into contact with armadillos are unlikely to get it. It is also treatable. The CDC’s practical advice is still to avoid contact with armadillos. For dog owners, the rule is simple: do not handle armadillos or carcasses, and do not let your dog mouth them either.
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis matters more for the dog itself. The CDC explains that the bacteria spread through the urine of infected animals, can survive in water or soil for weeks to months, and put dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors around wildlife at the greatest risk. A vaccine for dogs is available in the United States. If your dog hikes, swims or roots around outdoors in Florida, ask your vet whether it should have it before the trip.
Dead armadillos
Road-killed armadillos are a common sight along Florida roads, and they are irresistible to some dogs. Do not let your dog sniff closely, lick, chew or eat one. A carcass can expose a pet to bacteria and parasites, plus whatever road debris came with it. Keep a short leash along road shoulders, especially on early-morning walks when the night’s casualties have not been cleared.
If you need to move one off your property, do not use bare hands. Wear gloves or use a shovel, bag it, and wash up afterward.
If your dog tangles with an armadillo
Separate them if you can do it without putting your hands near either animal’s mouth or claws, then check the dog for:
- Scratches or cuts on the face, eyes and muzzle.
- Puncture wounds or torn skin on the legs and chest.
- Injuries inside the mouth or on the gums.
Call your veterinarian if there was significant contact or any injury, and tell them it was an armadillo so they can think about infection and disease exposure. Go in promptly if you see eye injuries, deep punctures, or later signs such as lethargy, fever, vomiting, not eating or changes in urination.
Yard damage is not a job for your dog
Armadillos can tear up lawns, mulch beds and gardens looking for grubs. If they become a nuisance at your home, use legal methods rather than sending a dog after them. FWC suggests keeping lawn watering and fertilizing to a minimum, and fencing at least 2 feet high with 18 inches buried below ground. Landowners may live-trap nuisance armadillos, but FWC rules say captured animals must be euthanized, released on site, or released within the same county on a property of at least 40 acres with the landowner’s written permission. At a rental, tell the owner or manager instead.
Night walks and rentals: what to do
- Carry a flashlight on every after-dark walk and keep the dog on a short leash.
- Check the rental yard in daylight for burrow holes along foundations, sheds and fences.
- Supervise dogs in the yard at night, and do not let them dig after wildlife.
- Steer clear of roadkill on shoulders and in ditches.
- Ask your vet about leptospirosis vaccination before a Florida trip.
- After any contact, check your dog over and call the vet if anything looks wrong.
Armadillos are one of Florida’s most distinctive everyday animals, and the safest pet interaction is no interaction at all. For the rest of Florida’s nighttime yard visitors, see raccoons, rabies and pets, wild hogs and dogs, strange animals you might see on a Florida vacation and our complete guide to Florida wildlife with pets.
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