Those Varmints!

With all of the rain pelting the Bayou, it has been a few days that I have actually had time to spend on the pier.  Time dilly-dallying was cut short as storms would chase me back inside.  I had just enough pier-time to check the crab traps and fill the bait boxes.  Sunrises and sunsets were not to be found peeking out between the clouds!  It was a constant gray.  Today, however, there were periodic breaks in the weather that allowed me to actually hang around the pier for a bit longer.  It was then that I noticed the varmints.  Notice that I did not call these creatures, critters, friends or buddies...these were varmints!    Ants!

Several of the planks on the pier are obviously infested with fire ants.  Now go figure!  I am not talking about the planks that are up close to the shore end but rather some that are quite far out over the water!  Wondering if the army of little biters had just wandered down the pier to seek some tasty treats, I started watching them.  Their trail led straight to one of the posts.  Keep in mind that the posts at this distance down the pier are always seated in water.  The ants had actually made a nest in the post.  How?  How and why did the ants chose a post out in the middle of the water as home?  It was slightly confusing to say the least. Michael pounded on the post.  More ants poured out of a small hole in the top.  Soon fire ants were everywhere!  Something needed to be done about these varmints before they weakened the post and planks enough that the pier could become dangerous.  Something definitely needed to be done, but what?  I absolutely refuse to dump any toxic chemicals onto the posts as this could end up in the Bay waters.  Michael and I discussed our options as we headed back up the hill to the Little Bayou House.  The rains had started once again but at least this was washing a goodly number of the disoriented ants into the Bay!  Perhaps fish will eat these before they can find their way ashore or to another post.

I do believe that the only safe option is to pour boiling water on the posts and hope for the best.  Mark's Uncle Stanley has used this method for years with some success.  Perhaps we will try it tomorrow if the weather permits.  Either this..or I find an aardvark!  Yep, I need an aardvark!