Common Signs of Ant Infestation in Oregon (And What to Do About Them)

There are over 12,500 different types of ant species in the United States. Over 200 of those ant types live in Portland, Oregon.

That means a lot of ants have access to your home.

These ants can infest your food, damage the walls of your home, and just be a real nuisance all around. That’s why you’ll want to get rid of these ants as soon as you notice them.

So how can you tell if you have an ant problem?

Keep reading to learn some of the common signs of an ant infestation and what to do about them.

Common Signs of an Ant Infestation

It isn’t hard to spot an ant infestation in your home. If you see a lot of ants wandering around, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with an infestation.

But depending on the type of ants invading your home, there are several different ways to spot them.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the common signs of an ant infestation.

Ants in Exposed Food Sources

Leaving leftovers open on the counters is a sure way to draw ants into your home. They’re looking for a food source, and leaving food out makes your home a good target.

But exposed food doesn’t just include scraps left on dinner plates. Ants can get into containers that don’t have an air-tight seal, such as an open box of cereal or granola.

You might not even realize you have exposed food in your kitchen. After all, exposed food could mean a tiny piece last night’s dinner on the stove or a crumb of sugar on the counter.

If you see ants crawling over your counters or overrunning any exposed food, you’ve got an ant infestation on your hands.

Ants in the Dog or Cat Food

Pet food will also attract ants into your home.

The ants don’t care what type of food source they’re getting, so dog or cat food will do just fine. If you don’t find any ants in the kitchen, you might notice them swarming your pet bowls.

Try putting the animal food bowls away during the day and only taking them out during meal times. This could discourage the ants in the future.

Trails of Ants

As they’re looking for food, some types of ants will leave a trail of pheromone behind them. This chemical attracts other ants to that food source.

A trail of ants will form as more and more go after the source of food.

You can find trails anywhere in your home, but keep an eye out for them wherever you leave food. This includes places like the kitchen, pantry, and dining room.

A Large Number of Live Ants

You might not find any ants in your kitchen. You might not find any ant trails leading to a food source.

Instead, you might just see a large number of ants wandering around your house.

Even though you might not see them invading your pantry, this is still an ant infestation. One or two ants aren’t a problem. But if you see more than that, you should start looking for a pest control company.

Finding an Ant Nest

The ants in your home are coming from somewhere. And that somewhere is an ant nest.

Ants don’t build their nests inside your home. But they do create a nest a short distance away from your home. If you find the ant nest, you definitely have an ant infestation going on inside your house.

The nest will look like a small mound of dirt. It might even be right up against the exterior walls of your home.

Don’t overlook these nest. They may seem small, but there are thousands of ants underneath that mound of dirt.

Listening to the Walls

Carpenter ants build their nest in wood. If they’re infesting your home, the wood for their nest will be the walls of your home.

To find out if you’re dealing with carpenter ants, you should spend some time listening to the walls.

This might sound weird, but you can hear rustling noises when the carpenter ants are moving around. Because they’re most active at night, make sure you listen after the sun goes down.

You can also knock on parts of your wall to see if they sound hollow. If they do sound hollow, the carpenter ants have damaged your wood.

Wood Shavings on Your Floor

As carpenter ants burrow around in your walls, they leave wood shavings behind them. You can find this sawdust on your floors, counters, and furniture.

If you find any wood shavings around your house that don’t seem to have a cause, you should call a pest control company. There’s a good chance the shavings came from carpenter ants in your walls, and you want to catch them before they do too much damage.

Why Are These Ants in My Home?

Ants can infest your home for a number of reasons.

Odds are, they’re looking for a food source for their colony and found exposed food in your home. But food isn’t the only reasons ants can invade your home.

A lack of proper cleaning is another thing that draws ants to your home. Though you might not have any food sitting out, leftover crumbs on the counters will attract ants just the same.

You might also have a crack in your foundation. This is an easy way for ants to get in and out of your home.

Large amounts of vegetation against your house is another reason ants might seek out your home.

What to Do About an Ant Infestation

If you notice any of these ant infestation signs, you should call a pest control company. They’ll be able to inspect your home and tell you what type of ants you’re dealing with.

After that, they can come up with a plan to exterminate them.

Professional pest control services are the most effective way to get rid of ants. Over the counter sprays or bug poison might not take care of the root of the problem. As long as the queen’s alive, you’ll continue to have an ant infestation.

How to Get Rid on an Ant Infestation in Portland, Oregon

Ants can cause more damage to your home than you think. You should never ignore ants in your home. Otherwise, you’ll have to spend more money to get rid of them and reverse the damage they’ve caused in the future.

Are you struggling with an ant infestation in your Portland, Oregon home? We can help!

Click here to fill out a service request or to get in touch with us today.