The ants you see in your house or yard come from a massive underground colony. (Getty Images)
DEAR JOAN: I see ants outside near the corner of my house. I don’t know if I should go ahead and call pest control to spray since it’s been more than two years since they sprayed for ants inside and outside my house after I had an ant invasion inside the house.
I don’t currently see ants inside my home, but I don’t want to be surprised by them in the future, especially if I travel in upcoming months.
— Julie Johnson, Cupertino
DEAR JULIE:
Ants are fascinating creatures and there are a lot of things to admire about them, such as their dedication to the colony, their work ethic, and their ability to navigate to just about anywhere.
However, it’s difficult to keep these attributes in mind when you get up in the morning and find them swarming all over the last doughnut you’d planned to have for breakfast.
Ants are notoriously difficult to control mainly because there are so many of them. Pesticides will kill a good portion of them, but not all of them, and their underground colonies are huge.
As tempting as it might be to wage all-out war, it’s better to pick your battles. As the ants are gathered in one spot, concentrate ant baits or pesticides there. Check plants for insects that produce honeydew — a sweet, sticky substance that ants adore — and remove these pests to lessen the number of ants in your yard.
Trim shrubs and other plants away from your house, and keep dropped fruit and other sweet substances cleaned up. Reducing leaf litter can also discourage ants.
Seal up cracks you find in and around your foundation, cutting off a route into your home.
And lastly, accept that you’re going to find ants. You just want to keep them at a tolerable level.
Congratulations are in order
The German Shepherd Rescue of Northern California is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and its 5,000th rescue. The group, which focuses on finding homes for German shepherd dogs, is the oldest shepherd rescue in the nation, and officials credit a strong and devoted cast of volunteers for their long-lived success.
The dog of the hour, Roo, was hailed not just as a milestone adoption but as a “symbol of hope, teamwork, and the belief that every shepherd deserves a chance.” We had a German shepherd named Fritz when I was a kid and he was an amazing dog, even playing football with my brother.
If you’re interested in adopting a German shepherd or learning more about the breed, visit the organization at gsrnc.org, where you’ll find notices of mobile adoption sites as well as information on its big, annual fundraiser, Wags to Riches, Oct. 3, aboard the USS Hornet in Alameda.
Update on damaged oak tree
Frank Alioto, a frequent hiker on the Sousa Trail in the Acalanes Ridge Open Space, wrote to offer some insight on the damaged oak tree mentioned in an earlier column. He had seen some kids building a tree fort and hammering 2x4s into the tree. Later, the fort disappeared, but the damage to the tree might very well have been from that. Thanks, Frank.
The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.