Do Armadillos Chew on Plastic? (The Surprising Answer & Why)

Armadillos shuffle through backyards and forests with prehistoric armor plating, their snouts buried deep in soil hunting for grubs and beetles. These ancient creatures have survived millions of years, but modern life presents an unexpected challenge: plastic waste. Property owners discovering chewed plastic containers or damaged garden items often wonder whether armadillos are the culprits behind this destruction.

The short answer: Armadillos do not intentionally chew on plastic, but they frequently damage plastic objects while digging, foraging, or investigating potential food sources. Their behavior differs drastically from rodents that gnaw to maintain tooth health.

Understanding Armadillo Biology and Behavior

Physical Characteristics That Matter

Armadillos belong to the order Cingulata, sporting bony armor plates called osteoderms covering their backs, heads, and tails. The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) dominates North American territories, stretching from South America through Mexico into the southern United States.

These creatures possess peg-like teeth without enamel—a crucial detail explaining their interaction with objects. Unlike rodents whose incisors grow continuously and require constant gnawing, armadillo teeth grow slowly and serve primarily for crushing soft-bodied prey.

Natural Foraging Patterns

Armadillos excavate soil using powerful claws and sensitive snouts to detect insect vibrations and chemical trails. Their diet consists of 90% insects and invertebrates, including ants, termites, beetles, earthworms, and grubs. The remaining 10% includes small vertebrates, eggs, fruits, and fungi opportunistically.

These solitary nocturnal mammals dig constantly—creating burrows for shelter and excavating countless holes searching for meals. A single armadillo can consume over 40,000 ants in one feeding session, demonstrating their voracious appetite for protein-rich invertebrates.

Do Armadillos Actually Chew Plastic?

The Truth Behind Plastic Damage

Armadillos do not chew plastic for nutritional or dental purposes. However, they cause substantial damage to plastic items through three primary behaviors:

Investigative probing — Armadillos use their snouts to push, nudge, and overturn objects concealing potential food. Plastic flower pots, garbage bins, irrigation systems, and garden edging get knocked over or displaced during these investigations.

Excavation collateral — While digging for grubs beneath lawns or gardens, their powerful claws tear through plastic landscape fabric, irrigation tubing, and shallow-buried utilities. The damage appears deliberate but results from blind digging following insect trails.

Scent-driven exploration — Residual food odors on plastic containers attract armadillos. They scratch, push, and bite plastic garbage bags or compost bins trying to access the scent source, creating holes and tears that mimic intentional chewing.

Behavioral Comparison

textActual Chewing Behavior (Rodents):
→ Repeated gnawing on same spot
→ Clean, parallel tooth marks
→ Material systematically reduced
→ Frequent return to same object

Armadillo Interaction (Not True Chewing):
→ Random scratching or pushing
→ Irregular claw marks, punctures
→ Object displaced or overturned
→ Incidental damage during digging

Why Armadillos Interact With Plastic Objects

Food Association and Learning

Plastic containers often hold the lingering scent of organic matter—decomposing food scraps, grease residues, or compost materials. Armadillos possess keen olfactory senses calibrated for detecting buried insects, and these artificial scents trigger investigative behaviors.

Garden settings create perfect conditions for misunderstandings. Plastic mulch, drip irrigation lines, and raised bed edging exist precisely where armadillos hunt for soil-dwelling prey. The animals don’t recognize these materials as inedible obstacles; they simply dig through whatever lies between them and dinner.

Shelter-Seeking Behavior

Armadillos construct extensive burrow systems featuring multiple entrances and chambers. Plastic objects near potential denning sites—drainage pipes, stored containers, foundation vents—get investigated as possible shelter extensions. They push against these items testing structural stability, creating damage that resembles aggressive chewing.

Environmental stressors amplify this behavior. Drought conditions force armadillos to dig deeper and wider searching for moisture-dependent prey. Habitat fragmentation pushes wildlife into suburban areas where plastic infrastructure dominates landscapes.

Risks and Consequences for Wildlife

Health Hazards From Plastic Exposure

While armadillos don’t intentionally consume plastic, accidental ingestion occurs during normal feeding. Small plastic fragments mixed with soil, decomposing food on plastic surfaces, or microplastics embedded in invertebrate prey enter their digestive systems.

Documented risks include:

• Intestinal blockage — Larger plastic pieces obstruct digestive tracts, causing starvation
• Chemical toxicity — Plasticizers, stabilizers, and additives leach into body tissues
• Nutritional deficiency — Plastic-filled stomachs reduce appetite for nutritious food
• Physical injury — Sharp plastic edges lacerate mouth tissues and intestinal walls

A disturbing parallel exists in marine environments where sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish. Armadillos lack this visual confusion but face similar consequences when plastic infiltrates their terrestrial food web.

Environmental Impact on Armadillo Populations

Plastic pollution disrupts armadillo ecology through multiple pathways:

How to Protect Armadillos From Plastic

Property Management Strategies

Securing waste containers represents the most effective intervention. Use metal trash bins with locking lids rather than plastic bags or lightweight containers. Position garbage storage away from armadillo activity zones—typically areas with loose soil, leaf litter, or existing burrow systems.

Garden design modifications reduce conflict without harming wildlife:

• Replace plastic landscape fabric with biodegradable jute or coconut coir
• Use metal or wood edging instead of plastic borders
• Bury irrigation lines at least 8 inches deep below typical digging depth
• Apply armadillo-safe deterrents like castor oil around vulnerable areas

Creating Wildlife-Friendly Spaces

Coexistence requires understanding that armadillos provide ecological benefits. They consume destructive insects, aerate soil, and control pest populations naturally. Rather than viewing them as nuisances, property owners can design landscapes accommodating their needs while protecting infrastructure.

Designate specific areas where armadillos can forage freely—wooded corners, unmowed sections, or sacrificial garden zones. Concentrate plastic-free methods in these spaces while using deterrents around high-value areas like vegetable gardens or lawns.

Community-Level Solutions

Individual actions multiply when neighborhoods coordinate efforts. Plastic pollution reduction benefits all wildlife, not just armadillos. Community initiatives might include:

1. Organizing cleanup events targeting plastic debris in natural areas
2. Educating neighbors about proper waste storage and armadillo behavior
3. Supporting local ordinances restricting single-use plastics
4. Funding wildlife rehabilitation centers that treat animals injured by plastic

Key Takeaways

• Armadillos don’t deliberately chew plastic—their teeth lack the structure and purpose for gnawing behaviors seen in rodents
• Damage occurs incidentally during digging, foraging, and investigating food-scented objects
• Plastic exposure poses serious health risks including intestinal blockage, chemical toxicity, and physical injury
• Simple property modifications like securing trash bins and using metal infrastructure dramatically reduce conflicts
• Coexistence strategies benefit ecosystems by protecting wildlife while maintaining functional landscapes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What attracts armadillos to plastic containers?

Residual food odors on plastic garbage bags, compost bins, and recycling containers attract armadillos searching for meals. Their sensitive noses detect organic scents from decomposing matter, grease, or food residues. The animals don’t want the plastic itself—they’re investigating the source of the smell, often creating holes and tears in the process.

Can armadillos damage PVC pipes or irrigation systems?

Yes, armadillos frequently damage shallow-buried plastic infrastructure while digging for insects. Their powerful claws puncture PVC irrigation lines, sever drip tubing, and crack plastic pipes located less than 8 inches deep. The damage is unintentional—the animals follow insect trails underground and don’t distinguish between soil and artificial materials. Burying utilities deeper prevents most issues.

How do I tell if an armadillo or rodent damaged my plastic items?

Armadillo damage shows irregular claw punctures, displaced objects, and nearby digging, while rodent damage features clean, parallel tooth marks from repeated gnawing. Armadillos leave shallow cone-shaped holes throughout yards, scatter mulch, and overturn lightweight containers. Rodents create systematically chewed edges, typically returning to the same spot multiple times to gnaw progressively.

Are armadillos endangered by plastic pollution?

Armadillos aren’t currently endangered, but plastic pollution threatens their populations through habitat degradation, accidental ingestion, and prey contamination. Microplastics infiltrate the insects armadillos consume, creating bioaccumulation of toxins. Combined with habitat loss and vehicle mortality, plastic waste compounds existing conservation pressures, particularly for species beyond the common nine-banded armadillo.

What natural materials can replace plastic in armadillo-prone areas?

Metal, wood, and biodegradable fabrics work best. Use galvanized steel or aluminum edging, cedar or treated lumber borders, and jute or coconut fiber mulch fabrics. For irrigation, install metal risers at ground level and bury lines deeply. Natural stone, brick, and concrete provide durable alternatives to plastic landscape features while remaining armadillo-resistant.

Do armadillos eat plastic if they’re starving?

No, armadillos won’t intentionally eat plastic regardless of hunger because their biology doesn’t recognize it as food. However, starvation stress increases risky behaviors—more aggressive digging, expanded territory searching, and investigation of unusual objects. Accidentally ingested plastic fragments mixed with soil or prey during desperate feeding attempts become more likely under extreme conditions.

How can I discourage armadillos without harming them?

Use humane deterrents like castor oil-based repellents, motion-activated sprinklers, or bright LED lights near vulnerable areas. Eliminate attractants by securing garbage, removing fallen fruit, and maintaining tidy compost systems. Create physical barriers using buried hardware cloth extending 12 inches deep around gardens. Never use poisons, glue traps, or cruel exclusion methods that cause suffering or death.