Dam those ants trying to climb up to the bird feeder

From Aug. 9, 2005:

We have a hummingbird feeder that hangs from a curved pole. When my wife cleaned and filled the feeder, she noticed that it was full of ants, and when she replaced it, there was a steady stream of ants climbing the pole toward the feeder. When I suggested that she put something on the pole to deter the ants, she said, “Like what?” How about a homey tip for some simple household commodity to repel ants from climbing the pole to the hummingbird feeder?

A homey tip? Wait a second while I put on my comfortable old sweater and light my pipe and move the rocking chair out on the porch so I can sit and rock and think homey thoughts.

Actually, I have a great rocking chair that I bought in a junk store a few years ago and fixed up. It’s very comfortable, although everyone who has ever seen it says it’s an eyesore. OK, so maybe it’s got a little duct tape at a few key points. So what? I like it.

OK, about the hummingbird/ants thing. First of all, you may by no means poison the ants because you might hurt the hummingbirds.

Some people put Vaseline on the pole or the string holding the feeder, but other people say if it gets on the hummingbirds’ feathers it might mess them up.

You can buy “ant dams” that attach to the pole or the top of the feeder. I think you can get them at pet stores or maybe a hardware store. You fill them with water, and supposedly the ants can’t cross them. I don’t know. I’ve never seen one.

If you do use an ant dam, you have to be sure to keep it full of water and free of debris that the ants might use as a bridge.

Or, if you are clever, you probably could make one yourself out of jar lid and hang it above the feeder.

Try this: Get some monofilament fishing line and use that to hang the feeder. Use the thinnest stuff you can find that will still support the feeder.

Supposedly, it is too thin and too slippery even for ants.

Homey enough for you? I hope so. It’s too hot to be wearing this sweater.