How to Make Pet Safe Ant Traps

Ants invading homes and patios can be a nuisance. Their arrival signals ruined food, unsanitary kitchens and a creepy, crawly "ick" factor. The variety of ant traps on the market is staggering, but few of them are safe for pets, if they happen to come into contact with them. Store-bought traps can include arsenic and other toxic chemicals. There are many pet-safe home remedies that you can try to get rid of the invaders. The most important thing to know is where the ants are coming from. This will allow you to apply the treatment to the source of the problem.

Things You'll Need

• Indoor Ant Problem:
• 1 tbsp. boric acid
• 1 tbsp. mint jelly or peanut butter
• 1 cracker
• 1 small cardboard box
• 1 pin
• Outdoor Ant Problem:
• 1 to 2 gallons of boiling water
• Thermometer
• Indoor and Outdoor Problem:
• 1 1/2 cup cream of wheat

Instructions

Indoor Ant Problem

1. Punch pinholes in the cardboard box.

2. Mix the boric acid and mint jelly. Place the mixture on the cracker.

3. Place the cracker inside the box. The peanut butter or mint jelly will lure the ants to the spot by smell, the boric acid will kill them. Although it sounds bad, boric acid is safe for mammals (like your pets) to consume in small amounts, if they come into contact with it.

Outdoor Control

1. Find the nest of the ants. This remedy will work if they are nested in the ground.

2. Heat water to 160 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit. Quietly approach the ant hill.

3. Pour water down the hole.

Indoor and Outdoor Ant Problem

1. Follow the ant trail until you find the source of the nest.

2. Place the Cream of Wheat on a dish.

3. Place a dish of cream of wheat near the source of the ant invasion. The sweet smell will draw them to it. After they eat it, the ants explode due to the expansion of the cereal in their bodies.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many home remedies to remove ants. Some people swear by a mixture of water and cayenne pepper. Others say a line of chalk prevents ants from crossing a threshold. White vinegar is also a classic. Other things said to deter them are mint leaves, whole cloves and bay leaves.

References

• Ecology Center: Non-Toxic Ant Control
• "The Garden Guy: A Seasonal Guide to Organic Gardening in the Desert Southwest"; Dave Owens; 2002

Resources

• The Frugal Life: Getting Rid of Ants