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Post by shayla on May 6, 2018 13:42:49 GMT -5
Hello it’s the time of year where certain parts of my house gets infested with ants! This is also my first ant season with the fur babies. I’ve already thrown out all the insect killers so my ferrets couldn’t get to them and I would never buy more to use in my house as my ferrets are mostly free roam.
Do you guys know any ferret safe remedies for getting rid of ants?
I know it’s going to be pretty difficult as any ant killers are most likely going to be unsafe. I’ve tried removing all the live ants I could see then spraying vinegar around where they’re most common. It acts as more of a deterrent and usually only keeps the area clear for about an hour then it’s as if nothing was done. It’s a tough battle and so far I’m losing!
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pegleg
Junior Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 180 
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Post by pegleg on May 6, 2018 14:19:03 GMT -5
Have you tried mint? There are a lot of essential oils you can buy with scents ants hate. www.mommypotamus.com/7-ways-get-rid-ants-naturally/I'd imagine you wouldn't want to put it too close to the ferrets, they smell would be a bit much for them too, but putting it at windows/doors may help |
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Post by LindaM on May 6, 2018 14:48:07 GMT -5
pegleg Essential Oils are not safe to use around ferrets at all. It's also not just about the smell near ferrets either, it can lead to internal damage if they breathe it in or absorb through their skin because their little bodies have no way of getting rid of it. We will never recommend the use of EOs near ferrets at all and many of us won't even have any EOs anywhere in our home simply because of the risk involved.
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pegleg
Junior Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 180
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Post by pegleg on May 6, 2018 17:10:51 GMT -5
Not even in a different room? I don't use them myself, too expensive. Hmm. Do you think there is a way of getting the smell to bother the ants without it effecting the ferrets?
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Post by Blue on May 7, 2018 9:10:18 GMT -5
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Post by Heather on May 7, 2018 11:29:22 GMT -5
I use small containers of sugar and borax. These have to be up and out of the way from inquisitive pets. They cannot be put on top or underneath cages or around the ferret room but can be put on counters and shelves.
ciao
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Post by Blue on May 7, 2018 12:48:51 GMT -5
I didn't know about sugar and borax! Couldn't it be a problem, though, if the insects eat the borax, and then the ferrets eat the insects? Or do the insects just drop dead where they are, so they are safely out of reach? Or is it just such a small quantity that it doesn't matter to ferrets?
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Post by msav on May 9, 2018 18:07:16 GMT -5
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Post by Heather on May 11, 2018 13:38:20 GMT -5
The borax mixture like the poisons do not drop them dead but encourages them to take the toxin back to the nest and feed it to their young and share it with others. Bait stations work the same way. With the borax sometimes it is sugar they're returning but they cannot tell the borax from the sugar. Will it be toxic if your ferret gets into the mixture...yes. Will ingesting an ant who's eaten it, possibly not. According to the poison control centre they're not likely to survive beyond the nest.
ciao
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on May 11, 2018 14:46:39 GMT -5
I have had an ant problem a couple of times. Mine was from stashes of meat though. I cleaned that up and I was good to go. I do not know much about ants, so your situation may be different but hope your solution is that simple. I have since blocked rooms so I can control the stash in my house. I generally pick left over meat up every morning.
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Post by Sparrow on May 22, 2018 21:25:48 GMT -5
I use Epsom salt around my windows, if I have a need, and that works. Outside I use Spectracide and it works within minutes, however I can only recommend the granules or the concentrate that must be put in a sprayer. My ferret is indoors only as I have hawks around here that could easily pick him up (he's pretty tiny for a ferret). You also need to know your ant, as different ants might require a different approach.
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Post by lyles on May 25, 2018 9:28:51 GMT -5
Advion ant gel works very well. What I do is take a straw and put it deep inside the tube so the ferrets can't get to it. The ants swarm it and 48 hours later they're gone. Get a hard plastic straw so that they can't bite through it too.
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