One of my least favorite spring-time rituals is the sighting of my first carpenter ant in my house.  Seeing a few of these pests is pretty normal, they are known to travel as much as 300 feet in their search for food.  They don't eat wood, but they do tunnel through it   Generally, only the most severe of infestations is a "housing issue". Regardless, not very many us like sharing our castle with these freeloaders!

 

Today there are many products available to homeowners to help keep your home ant free. Here are a few strategies I prefer, for the do-it-yourself-er.

 

1) Barriers.  Carpenter Ant Barriers come in two types, the granule (solid) types and the spray (liquid) types.  I like to spread the granules around the base of my house, with the easy spread canisters that Ortho sells.

2) High Risk Areas: If there are any "high risk" areas, which are areas where the wood  or housing sill is particularly close to the ground, or is often wet, (they prefer wet wood) I usually spray the liquid in those areas as well.  My home has a couple of trouble spots where I know they like to hang out (or should I say, "formerly" hung out), and I make sure that those spots will be uncomfortable.

2) Be Early:  Better early than late: Don't let them start to figure out that your home is a good nesting site.  The barriers will repel them, and make sure any trails they make and follow go somewhere else. Once I see they are active, I get active myself.

3) Have more than a few? Get a Pro.  I'm much more comfortable with product outside my home than inside, but I don't want them in my house, period!  Since Carpenter ants have a nasty habit of making homes in places you can't see, a large presence in your home (and/or a winter presence) may indicate that there are some new tenants that need to served their paperwork.  Get a reputable pest person to make sure the problem is handled properly.

4) Prevent: If you have old, wet wood wood that is rotting with in close proximity of your home, try to get rid of it, as it could make a good site for future carpenter ants. Although it's unrealistic to try to eliminate every possible nesting site, you don't want to give them easy access to your home.  Better a long walk, than a short one.  It's also a good idea to keep shrubs and plants away from your home or foundation, as they can walk right up these plants and on to your home.  Any branches that touch your roof or home from trees can also be pathways up and over any barriers that you lay down.

 

Good Luck!