Ants?

Hello,
I have scored a cord of wood, mostly what appears to be red oak from one of our build sites. I'll be getting another 2-3 cords from there. The logs have been on the ground for over two years. The bark has fallen off and some have a 3/4" -1" layer of soft punk. A few have Carpenter Ants, either in the pith or in old knot holes. They come tumbling out as it is split. It's my theory that the ants will all die as their nests are destroyed and the wood dries out. We cover the top of the stacks to keep snow and direct rain off. My roommate has yet to notice, but she will. She does most of the stacking and I'll be getting more this weekend. What do I tell her? Should I temporarily tent the stacks with a big tarp and set off some bug bombs a couple of times?

 

If you split it and leave it for a few days they usually are gone by the time you stack (presumably a few days later)

 

Looks like you are in the northeast. I can hear the birds singing outside as I type this. You may have luck leaving it exposed for the next few days and the’ll wander off on their own and the birds will take care of many as well.

 

Get chickens. Put the infested split wood where chickens can get to it. No more ants and fat happy chickens

 

I usually just toss the ant pieces off to the side after splitting. They'll happily live in a log or round, but don't seem to think of splits as good homes. Next day I add the now-antless pieces to the stack.

 

Those ants aren't going to harm much and will mostly be gone once split. Carry on.

 

A growing tribe of environmentalists, academics and entrepreneurs want you to eat those little black bugs instead of hamburgers.

 

As the others suggested, I toss ant wood aside and keep split side up for a few days so birds can get to it, before adding it into the regular stack.
As another precaution to prevent bringing them into the house, I usually keep splits with evidence of ants outside and they go right into the fire instated of bringing them into the stack by the stove. That is probably not needed as they are long gone really.

 

Dave, they are great for getting rid of bugs. The problem is "Chickens make a lousy house pet! ".

 

Thank you, all for confirming what I thought!

 

Before I start splitting I open the chicken run and let the flock out. then we all make our way to the shed for a cupful of cracked corn . then we all walk over to the splitter and get to work . they get ants, grubs anything that moves is gobbled up. they dig threw the bark looking for more to eat and will even return to work the area the day after the splitting. I've seen thousands of ant's over the years but zero damage to any of my structures.

 

When I see any large black ants, I grab the propane torch and roast as many as possible, then I let those splits lay out in the open in hopes birds will feast on any left moving. I've never seen them in or near the house after splitting.

 

Off the ground and top cover and the ants will go away. I encounter ants in all species at any time of the year while splitting. Small torch or ant spray nearby while splitting helps. A good smack or two on the splitter while splitting evicts them. If the split is full of ant holes ill toss aside and use for pit wood or discard into the woods. Ive never found ants in wood when unstacking for use.

Sapwood punk the norm on oak sitting exposed to the weather for a while. Heartwood is very rot resistant and will keep for many years. Messier than usual but worth it for the most part.

 

I split everything by hand. We have house wrens that hang around close when splitting. If I take a break they zoom right in to pick over the processing area.

 

The Carolina Wrens are always close by when I’m splitting. Plenty of housing in the stacks and a steady supply of borers and ants. I’m thinking they will eventually perch on my shoulder watching for the next snack.

 

Once they get fat on ants we get fat on chicken

 

I think I saw one hanging out in your beard at the Hawg Days GTG!!

 

get some amdro ant bait and sprinkle it round the perimeter of the wood pile. It keeps them down.
Or mix some borax and sugar water together and stick it someplace out of the elements but accessible to the ants.
The birds take care of the what falls out and don't escape fast enough.

 

When I see ants I split their home apart. They go away. I throw away the pieces that they have turned into Swiss cheese and put the rest straight on my stacks.