Ants? - Health Hazard

[ChipmunkLuver]

Lately there have been ants around - no shock since it's their season. No big ones, the tiny size, but still kind of gross even if not bothersome. However, I've noticed now they seem to be going after my chipmunks' home. I found three crawling around inside my boys' bottom floor and had to move their food bowl to feel alright.

I wanted to put down an ant trap, but then thought if one carried the food into the cage and it was poisonous to chipmunks... well, troublesome. How can I get ants out of my chipmunk-room without compromising the health of my chipmunks?

[Pointy Tale]

I am not sure about the chipmunk hazard, but we've always used boric acid as it is low-impact, although if you chipmunk were to ingest it, I would imagine he would be sick. Are the ants on the inside of the house or outside? Is his cage on the inside or outside? Oh, I am Not an expert.

[ChipmunkLuver]

The ants have been seen both inside and outside the cage on separate occasions. My cages are all on the inside, too (I wish I had an outside cage - next year's goal).



I am not sure about the chipmunk hazard, but we've always used boric acid as it is low-impact, although if you chipmunk were to ingest it, I would imagine he would be sick. Are the ants on the inside of the house or outside? Is his cage on the inside or outside? Oh, I am Not an expert.

[Nevara]

You may try moving the chippies' cage to another location and then do a massive extermination of the ants. Once you have ants, they are SUPER hard to get rid of.

[TinyPaws]

I've had success using the powdered cinnamon...They were coming in from the front door, so I sprinkled cinnamon across the threshold and it kept them out...You need to find where they are coming in from, but you can sprinkle cinnamon around the cage....at least, it can be used as a temporary measure....

[tatcat]

:wave123 hey tp, i have never heard of that...what does the cinnamon do to them??

[ChipmunkLuver]

I don't think I can move the cages too far, they have their own room & neither cage fits through a door XP

Wow! Thanks for these tips - I googled and found that cinnamon is a natural ant repellent. I found a few others like pepper, cayan pepper and vinegar. Neat!

I lay some aluminum foil down on the path the ants seemed to be traveling, two for each cage. In one I sprinkled cinnamon and in the other cayan pepper. I'll be back up in a bit to check on the girls and I'll see how it worked out then. Fingers crossed!

[TinyPaws]

Hi Tatcat :wave123 The ants don't like the cinnamon..you can also put some down in their nest..It will cause them to move locations...Now all my ants live at the back of the yard and don't come into the house....

[tatcat]

:wave123 hey tp, i will remember this if i have a problem...:thankyou for the info