ANTS!!!

[BarbaraRose]

I read that chalk is good for keeping ants away. However, it might not work at a campsite since you need to draw a chalk line (unless you are parked on a concrete slab). Apparently, ants will not cross over a chalk line.

[Pooker]

I swear when this old world ends there will be two colonies left: one of ants and the other roaches! At my previous house I was invaded 4 or 5 times a year. And, of course, RVs must be a big attraction to all sorts of ants.

The Comet solution has merit. I have heard that they don't like the grit on their feet and they ingest it when they groom. It does seem to repel many of the ant species we run into. At one campsite I circled an ant hill with Comet and watched as the frustrated ants wouldn't cross the line! Windex or other ammonia based cleaners kills them instantly, but doesn't keep new ones from entering. The chalk idea is somewhat successful because they don't like the texture, but that idea probably stems from a product from China that is an insect poison chalk. It works very well, but not always available because some states ban it. I have sometimes found sticks in those Asian 98+ stores (where very little is actually a dollar!) and they were cheap.

But mostly I bought a product called Grants Ant Stakes. Can buy it at hardware stores and even Walmart. They don't even need to be staked into the ground. Just lay them behind or between tires, jacks, cords, etc. wherever they are invading. The gel poison is only accessible through a small hole and you stir up the gel with a nail or small stick. Pets probably wouldn't get into the poison, but I always placed them in spots where the animals wouldn't even try to get into it. First day or two the ants are still everywhere and you have to manually spray them with Windex or something, but a day or two later they are all gone! Supposedly they take the poison back to the nest. At the stick house I just put them every 8 feet or so all around the foundation or skirting.

Remember to remove anything you've placed outside when you vacate your campsite!

Pooker

[Echo]

I will sure have to try the comet trick. And the Terro. Windex is easy to get and I'd like to spray that around the doorway and windows. At least if it rains it off I can spray again. Have been stuffing dryer sheets in nooks and cranies.

Thanks!!!!

[JudyJB]

After reading this "antsy" topic today, I went into my garage to sweep it out. Apparently there was something leaking from one of my trash bags because there were thousands of tiny ants crawling around. I hopped into my car and made an emergency trip to get some ant spray, which did the trick. Hate to use chemicals, but at least I don't have any animals.

I live on the second floor and we don't have fire ants in Michigan to my knowledge, so it was not too bad, but it certainly makes you feel crawly. I hope you get yours taken care of soon, Echo.

[linann]

We were over run by some giant ants for a couple of weeks -- picked them after parking the travel trailer in the back yard. A member of our Good Sam chapter gave me a recipe everyone in the chapter uses to deal with ants: two bay leaves and 1/2 of a dog flea collar tied up in the toe of a stocking. Stuff one of these little bags at every vent/access area. Has worked well for us, plus moved our rig to the front of the house instead of out back near bushes.