Are Commercial Ant Traps/Baits Safe?

Gina Solomon responds:

I’m a fan of ant traps and baits. This is a far more intelligent way of dealing with ant problems than spraying. In homes where there’s a toddler, I caution people to make sure the baits/traps are placed in locations that are inaccessible to the child. With a 7 month old, that should be easy to do! To deal effectively with ant problems, I recommend starting by tracing the little line of marching critters back to try to find the place where they’re getting in. That spot should be sealed off if possible. Most kinds of caulk or crack sealer should be OK for that. Then it’s important to try to figure out where they’re going. If they’re heading to a specific spot, then try to clean that zone and put anything that they’re after into sealed containers or zip lock bags. Then take a soapy rag and wipe up the ants, and the invisible scent trail that they’re following. Sometimes that’s enough to fix the problem. If that isn’t enough, then it’s time to use a bait station. The safest bet are the kinds that contain boric acid (check the label), since it’s a less-toxic pesticide even if a pet or child did accidentally get hold of it. I hope your ant problem goes away soon!