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Armadillo Removal in Hattiesburg

Last reviewed September 8, 2026 against MDWFP published rules and federal statute. How we research this site.

An armadillo can turn a good lawn over in a single night, and the burrows go under concrete.

Hattiesburg specifically

Damp, soft ground near the river bottoms is prime armadillo digging, and this part of Mississippi has plenty of it. They work the wet ground first and spread outward into lawns and beds from there, which is why properties on the low side of a street tend to get it worse and get it repeatedly.

Armadillos in Forrest County: who does what

Hattiesburg’s animal control is a unit of the police department, and the ordinance it enforces is written around owned animals: running at large, restraint, and the responsibilities of an owner. An animal in your attic has no owner and falls outside that framework entirely. Mississippi handles nuisance wildlife through the state’s permitted operator system instead, which is a private, paid arrangement.

For identifying an animal or damage before anyone is paid to look, the MSU Extension, Forrest County office is at 952 Sullivan Drive, Hattiesburg, MS 39401, 601-545-6083 (office page).

Sources: City of Hattiesburg, Chapter 118, Animal Incidents and Control. Checked October 2026.

An armadillo rooting in a lawn at night among cone-shaped diggings
Illustrative Cone-shaped diggings that reappear nightly.

Signs, and why they matter

  • Dozens of shallow cone-shaped holes across the lawn, appearing overnight
  • Lifted or rolled-back turf where they have rooted for grubs
  • A burrow entrance about 7–10 inches wide beside a slab, driveway or foundation
  • Burrows undermining driveways, patios, slabs and foundation edges
  • Repeated and expensive lawn damage

How removal works

Armadillos are poor candidates for bait trapping; they are after live grubs, not bait. Removal relies on directional trapping along travel routes and burrow entrances, then exclusion fencing dug in and angled outward.

Armadillo questions

How much does armadillo removal cost in Hattiesburg?

$250 – $550 typical, depending on access and whether young are present. After a long stay in an attic the cleanup is often the bigger bill (attic restoration).

Is there a wrong time of year to deal with armadillos?

Year-round in the Deep South, worst in warm wet spells when grubs are near the surface.

Request a quote

We read every request and pass it to a licensed wildlife operator covering Hattiesburg where one is available. We are still building our list of operators here, so we cannot promise one is available or say how quickly they will respond.

We are an information and referral service, not a licensed wildlife control operator, and we may be paid for the introduction. You are never charged.

Request a quote from a licensed Mississippi operator

Tell us what is in your house. We read every request and pass it to a licensed wildlife operator covering Hattiesburg where one is available. We are still building our list of operators here, so we cannot promise one is available or say how quickly they will respond.