Bait-based treatment
The standard answer to trailing ants. It is slower than a spray, but it works on the colony. Bait stations stay in place for a week or two and are replaced if needed.
Serving Hennepin County
Ant Control in Minneapolis
Small ants that appear when the ground thaws and trail along sidewalks, slab edges and basements. Baits and sealing.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Autumn sealing before the hard freeze
- Price confirmed before treatment
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (855) 974-4733. Or send this and we call you back.
Ants
Ant Control: what it covers
Quick answer
Ant control in Minneapolis starts with identifying the species, then placing baits and sealing the trail rather than spraying the ants you see. Small ants become active when the ground thaws, and some colonies persist indoors in heated buildings. Minneapolis Pest Control connects you with a local technician and confirms the price first.
The first sign of spring in a Minnesota kitchen is not a robin. It is a thin line of small brown ants crossing the counter on a morning when the snow is still in the shade. The ground has barely thawed outside, and the colony that spent the winter under a slab or in a warm wall has restarted.
Most ant trouble indoors comes from species that nest in soil and masonry, work along pavement cracks and foundations, and follow trails for food. Some colonies never fully stop, because a heated basement offers the same conditions in February as in June. The job is therefore to find which kind of ant it is, learn where the trail goes, and use baits so that the colony is reached, not just the foragers. Minneapolis Pest Control answers its phones 24/7 and passes you to an independent local company.
- Service area
- Minneapolis & Hennepin County
- Availability
- Phones answered 24/7
- Phone
- (855) 974-4733
Warning signs
Signs you need ant control
Do not spray repellent near bait stations, as it can break the trail and cause the colony to split. Do not leave bait where children or pets can reach it. Keep gel baits in labeled, closed stations and call if a child touches one.
- A thin trail of small brown or black ants on a counter, windowsill or bathroom floor
- Tiny mounds of fine soil in the cracks of a driveway, a sidewalk or a patio
- Ants emerging from a baseboard, an outlet cover or a gap beside a pipe
- A sudden surge of ants after rain, or on the first mild days of spring
- Ants clustered around pet food, a sugar spill or a leaking drain
- A faint sweet, rotten-coconut smell when the ants are crushed
- Ants emerging from the edge of a basement floor or a crack in the concrete
- Winged ants swarming at a window on a warm day
Our process
How our ant control visit works
Capture a sample
The technician looks at an ant or two under magnification, since species decide the plan. Sweet-feeding and grease-feeding ants take different baits.
Follow the trail
Trails are traced outdoors to a crack, a sidewalk joint or a foundation seam, and indoors to the point of entry. Where the line goes tells you where the colony is.
Place baits where ants walk
Gel or granular baits are placed along the route, not sprayed over it. Foragers carry the bait back to the nest, which reaches ants you never see.
Treat the entry points
A limited exterior treatment and sealing of gaps around pipes, windows and the slab edge reduce return. Interior sprays are used sparingly, since they can break the bait trail.
Check back after a week or two
Activity usually shifts as the colony takes the bait. The technician returns to see whether trails have stopped, then adjusts the baits.
Cost
How much does ant control cost in Minneapolis?
There is no published Minneapolis price for ant work to quote here. The quote depends on the following.
| Job | Typical range | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Species and size of the colony | Set by the ant | Pavement ants are often simpler than a species with many connected nests |
| Indoor and outdoor work | One or both | A kitchen trail may need only baits; a persistent problem needs exterior work too |
| Building type | Scales with the property | Attached homes and apartment buildings often need coordination across units |
| Sealing | Optional | Caulking cracks and gaps can be added to a visit |
| Follow-up visits | One or two | Bait programs usually need a recheck |
These are cost drivers, not prices. Your exact price is confirmed on site before any work starts.
Why do ants come back every thaw?
The colony survived the winter in soil, masonry or a warm wall and restarts as the ground thaws. Spraying the foragers does not touch it. Baits carried back to the nest, plus sealing the trail, are the way to reduce the colony and make a return less likely.
In April the first foragers go out to find food and water. If they find the kitchen, they lay a scent trail, and more follow.
That is why a spring spray often looks like it worked, then fails. The colony is still there, producing new workers.
Is the little ant in my kitchen a carpenter ant?
Probably not. Carpenter ants are large, often half an inch long, and tend to nest in wet wood. Small brown or black trailing ants are more often pavement ants or similar soil species. A technician can confirm from a sample, which is worth doing before treating.
The distinction decides the treatment. A carpenter ant needs a nest search and moisture repair, covered on our carpenter ant page. A trailing ant needs bait.
Take a clear photo or tape one ant to a card. Size and color are the quick clues.
What attracts ants inside during winter?
Warmth, water and crumbs. A heated kitchen, a damp bathroom or a leaking pipe in a basement can support an indoor colony through the cold months. Food residue behind appliances and in cabinets keeps the trail active.
Tidy housekeeping helps but cannot solve the problem alone. The point of entry or the nest must be found.
If ants appear in January, treat it as a sign of an indoor colony, not a visitor from outside. Tell the technician you saw them when the ground was frozen.
- Wipe counters and sweep floors before bed
- Store sugar, honey and pet food in sealed containers
- Fix drips under sinks and around tubs
- Take trash out nightly while trails are active
Do the ants on my sidewalk need treating?
Not usually. Ants working a sidewalk crack or a patio joint are doing what they do outdoors. Treatment becomes worthwhile when trails lead to the building, when mounds appear against the foundation, or when ants keep entering the kitchen from the same point.
A walk around the slab edge in April tells you more than any spray. Note where the trail meets the wall, since that is the place to bait and seal.
Pavement joints are also a good place for a technician to check for the start of a colony. A small outdoor treatment there can save a lot of indoor effort later.
What if I rent and the ants come from the next unit?
Tell the property manager in writing and describe where the ants appear. Ants travel along shared walls, pipes and wiring, so a plan limited to one unit may not last. A technician can work with the manager on bait placement for the adjoining spaces.
Photos and dates help. They show whether the activity is steady or seasonal and they give the manager something to pass to the pest company.
Meanwhile, keep food sealed and wipe surfaces. It will not clear a colony, but it makes baits more attractive to the ants than your cupboards.
Options
Types and options for ant control
Exterior perimeter service
Used when ants keep coming from outside, such as along sidewalks and slab edges. It combines targeted outdoor treatment with sealing, and is usually timed for spring thaw.
Interior nest search
Used when ants appear in winter. The technician looks for an indoor colony in a wall, a bathroom or a basement and treats it directly, where reachable.
Hennepin County
Why ant control is different in Twin Cities Metro
Sidewalks, driveways and patios are the ant highways of a city lot. The joints between slabs and the strip beside the foundation hold soil, retain warmth and open early in the thaw. Houses with a concrete step against the foundation are common starting points.
Basements bring ants indoors out of season. A boiler or furnace room warms the foundation, and a colony in the soil beside it may keep working while the yard is under snow.
The thaw itself is the signal. Ants in the yard in April are normal; ants at the kitchen counter in the first week of March are a reason to call.
Older houses with a stone or block foundation and a concrete slab in the basement offer a lot of seams where soil, masonry and wood meet. Ants use those seams as roads, and a technician will often find the trail begins in a spot that has nothing to do with the kitchen.
Still stuck? We pick up 24/7.
If it's an emergency, call now. For non-urgent ant control, send the form and we'll call you back.
Where we work
Ant Control across Hennepin County
- Ants in Minneapolis
- Ants in Saint Paul
- Ants in Mendota
- Ants in Hopkins
- Ants in Navarre
- Ants in Minnetonka
- Ants in Loretto
- Ants in Osseo
- Ants in South Saint Paul
- Ants in Eden Prairie
- Ants in Circle Pines
- Ants in Wayzata
- Ants in Inver Grove Heights
- Ants in Champlin
- Ants in Newport
- Ants in Maple Plain
- Ants in Chanhassen
- Ants in Crystal Bay
- Ants in Savage
- Ants in Long Lake
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Related
Related services
Carpenter Ant Control
Carpenter ants restart after winter and favor damp wood. Locating the nest, fixing the moisture and treating the colony.
General Pest Control
Seasonal pest control for Twin Cities homes, timed to the October move indoors and the April thaw instead of spread evenly.
Basement and Foundation Sealing
Sealing rim joists, sill plates, window wells and utility gaps in Twin Cities basements before the ground freezes.
Guides
Read before you book
Are Termites a Real Problem in Minneapolis? An Honest Answer
Termites are uncommon to rare in Minnesota, according to University of Minnesota Extension, and generally found in the southern third of the state.
FAQ
Ant Control FAQs
Why does spraying make the ants worse?
Repellent sprays kill the visible foragers but can cause the colony to split into several nests. Baits work more slowly because workers carry them home. If you have sprayed, tell the technician so the baits can be placed correctly.
Are ants in the house a sign of a dirty kitchen?
Not necessarily. Ants follow food and water scent, and a few crumbs or a drip is enough. Clean surfaces help but do not solve the problem. A colony outside can send foragers into even a spotless home.
How long do baits take to work?
Often a week or two, and sometimes longer. You may see more ants at first as they swarm the bait. That is a good sign. The technician returns to check and change baits if needed.
Do ants cause damage?
Trailing ants do not damage the structure. They contaminate food and can be a nuisance in large numbers. Carpenter ants are different and can weaken wood, so identification is important.
Can I stop ants with natural remedies?
Vinegar wipes, cinnamon and similar remedies may disrupt a trail for a time but do not remove the colony. They are fine as a stopgap while you wait for a technician.
Why do I see winged ants in spring?
Winged ants are reproductive adults leaving a mature colony, usually on warm days. Seeing them outdoors is normal; seeing them indoors can mean a nest in or near the house. Save a few for identification.