[TN-Bird] Re: Ants in birdhouses
- From: "Reese, Carol" <jreese5@xxxxxxx>
- To: "ldavis@xxxxxxxxxxxx" <ldavis@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:31:13 +0000
Rotenone is bad stuff despite its "organic" classification. Very toxic to fish,
and mildly toxic to birds.
Diatomaceous earth seems to be relatively harmless, I have used it successfully
for ants and slugs in garden settings, but have not tried it in bird houses.
Here is a link you might with to peruse:
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html
"There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot."
- Aldo Leopold<http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/43828.Aldo_Leopold>
Carol Reese
Ornamental Horticulture Specialist -Western District
University of Tennessee Extension Service
605 Airways Blvd.
Jackson TN 38301
731 425 4767 email jreese5@xxxxxxx<mailto:jreese5@xxxxxxx>
From: tn-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tn-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Lynne Davis
Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 7:19 AM
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [TN-Bird] Ants in birdhouses
We have ants in nearly all our bird boxes. An older book we have recommends
putting a thin layer of rotenone in the bottom of the boxes. I went to the
"big box" home improvement store yesterday looking for it, and they didn't know
what I was talking about. They suggested diatomaceous earth. Does anyone know
if this is safe and effective for bird boxes? If not, do you know where to
look for rotenone?
One bird box contained a very pretty and docile black rat snake, probably less
than two years old, still showing the remnants of his baby stripes. He was
encouraged to "roost" elsewhere.
Thanks,
Lynne Davis
Seymour, Sevier County
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