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Armadillo Removal in Albany
An armadillo can turn a good lawn over in a single night, and the burrows go under concrete.
The Flint River runs through Albany, and the soft alluvial soil along it is ideal armadillo digging. They work the damp, loose ground first and move outward into lawns and flowerbeds from there, which is why properties nearer the river tend to see the cone-shaped diggings return season after season no matter how often the animal is removed.
Armadillos in Dougherty County: who does what
The City of Albany Animal Control publishes its remit as dog fighting, inhumane treatment, animals running at large, cruelty, dangerous dogs, bite cases and enforcement of the city animal control ordinance. Wildlife is not on that list at all: the department describes itself as responding to calls concerning domestic animals. There is no municipal service here for an animal in your attic, and no referral published either.
Animal control for both Albany and Dougherty County is the Albany Police Department’s Animal Control unit, one number for both (229-431-2132), which describes its work as patrolling city streets and answering calls about domestic animals.
For identifying an animal or damage before anyone is paid to look, the UGA Extension, Dougherty County office is at 125 Pine Avenue, Suite 100, Albany, GA 31701, (229) 436-7216 (office page).
What Georgia law says about armadillos
Armadillos are on Georgia’s short statutory list of nongame animals that may be taken by any lawful method, but it is unlawful to keep a live one. Local firearm ordinances still apply in town. All Georgia rules →
Sources: City of Albany, Animal Control; Georgia DNR: Nuisance Wildlife Control study material (O.C.G.A. 27 and permit conditions); Georgia DNR: preventing wildlife conflicts. Checked October 2026.
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.
Groundhogs in Albany
Groundhogs are present in southwest Georgia but are not the usual answer here: along the Flint the burrow you are looking at is more likely armadillo. Getting the identification right is not academic: a groundhog burrow running under a slab or a footing is a structural problem, and it is dealt with differently.
Groundhogs are on Georgia’s statutory list of nongame animals that may be taken by any lawful method, but a live one may not be kept. Licensed operators may handle them by all lawful methods.
Trapping and removal, then collapsing and backfilling the burrow system and fitting a dug-in barrier. Leaving the tunnels open invites the next occupant.
Armadillo questions
How much does armadillo removal cost in Albany?
$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.
Who handles armadillos in Dougherty County?
Animal control for both Albany and Dougherty County is the Albany Police Department’s Animal Control unit, one number for both (229-431-2132), which describes its work as patrolling city streets and answering calls about domestic animals.
Request a quote
We read every request and pass it to a licensed wildlife operator covering Albany 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.