Audubon's Colony-Elimination Ant Team

Contact spray disrupts the trail temporarily but rarely reaches the nest.

Look for bigger ants and fine wood-shaving debris — a byproduct of their excavation.

Colony elimination via bait typically takes one to two weeks as it spreads through the nest.

Yes — mounds often need direct treatment plus broadcast baiting, since a colony can have multiple mounds scattered widely.

Colony elimination clears the current infestation; a seasonal perimeter program helps prevent a new one establishing. A recurring perimeter visit every season is usually enough to keep new colonies from establishing near the foundation.

Bait sits in enclosed stations or protected areas specifically to limit pet and child access. It also helps to keep mulch pulled back from the foundation a few inches, since that alone reduces bridge points significantly.