Critters in the Yard (Dallas: house, private school, university)

[UKjay]

We had one armadillo trapped and removed, but the evidence in the yard indicates there are more. Night before last a racoon found himself in the trap. Tonight there are 3 traps out.
The armadillos are digging around the foundation of the house, which can't be good. The racoon was probably just looking for food, but he's looking west of I35 now
Question is, will they every give up and go to someone eles's house? Or, am I going to put the wildlife removal technician's child through university
Do other people have critters and if so, do you have any problems if you don't remove them from the area around your house.
This is new to me; I'm clueless. Any advice, experience, horror stories and good news would be much appreciated.

[love roses]

I thought we lacked critters out where I am, but my next door neighbor recently found an Opposum in his garage. He called animal control and she came and relocated it.

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by UKjay

We had one armadillo trapped and removed, but the evidence in the yard indicates there are more. Night before last a racoon found himself in the trap. Tonight there are 3 traps out.
The armadillos are digging around the foundation of the house, which can't be good. The racoon was probably just looking for food, but he's looking west of I35 now
Question is, will they every give up and go to someone eles's house? Or, am I going to put the wildlife removal technician's child through university
Do other people have critters and if so, do you have any problems if you don't remove them from the area around your house.
This is new to me; I'm clueless. Any advice, experience, horror stories and good news would be much appreciated.

With possums (and this probably applies to armadillos), we found that they would indeed move on after a couple were trapped... for awhile, anyway. Seems like we need to set the traps out once a year, then they get the message. Raccoons usually aren't going to hang out at your property, unless there is easily accessible trash (or when you are trapping and they are hungry). They can be dangerous, though! I hate it when they get in the traps.

Another option is to use fox or coyote urine, which you can get at gardening stores. We haven't tried that yet, but it was recommended at the Natural Gardener. Something like this: http://www.predatorpee.com/

[starlite9]

We had a Grizzly sow with cubs knock over the burn barrel a few weeks ago.

Also get a lot of moose looking into the windows, and smaller furry little critters that dart out and back into the brush to keep from being eaten by the bigger furry critters...

Does that count?

[FueledByBlueBell]

In Dallas we always had critters in our yard (named in through the responding posts, plus turtles and squirrels) and my parents usually fed them. Feeding them certainly didn't deter them, but they were interesting to watch (through the glass door) and they left us alone and we left them alone. No damage to anything. The only impact was my developing with an appreciation for all creatures.

[UKjay]

The armadillo was burrowing "under" the foundation; it had quite a large burrow. That was was trapped and taken away. We filled in the dirt and within a week had indications that something was digging around the edge beds; then it moved near the house and started it's burrow. The wildlife person set a trap and caught a racoon the first night. He took him away and set more traps, no one showed up last night.
We were surprised at the racoon. We don't have any trash outside and would be surprised if the neighbors had any either. Hopefully the racoon was released on the other side of I35 along with the armadillo
Our back garden faces the tee box and there is a creek on the other side. The critters were here first, but I'd just prefer they not come to our house. I now understand why the dogs down the street sometimes bark at night. If our yard was completely fenced we could let our dog out and perhaps the critters wouldn't feel so at home
Living here seemed like such a good idea at the time, nice view, quiet. After 3 years living in the city of London, I miss the city the city sounds It's much too quiet and dark at night where we live!

[txgolfer130]

If there's one there's 10 armadillo wise. Especially around golf courses they will thrive if no active trapping or irradiating is done by the course. Fertile, manicured and well taken care of lawns of homes next to a prime feeding/breeding ground is great for them.

While you won't put the kid through college, you just might put them through private school up until then.

Mothballs. Sometimes they will deter the armadillo, and if they eat 'em they will die. good luck.

[jobert]

Armadillos - I caught one of those sum**tches eating my Christmas lights last year. Apparently they aren't as bright.

[Trainwreck20]

Armadillos are attracted to food sources, so it might be that you have grubs in your yard, too. If you treat the grubs, the 'dillos will leave.

Racoons often are looking for pet food (cat or dog) or, in a pinch, bird food from a bird feeder.

[txgolfer130]

moles will also be searching for grubs.