Ants in the Lighthouse

The following is one, in a series, of funny/unique events in my day as a pest control technician for LIND PEST CONTROL

Ants in the Lighthouse

I went out to Tanglewood island once (off of Fox Island).  We had a call come in that there were carpenter ants in the “Great Hall” structure of the Tanglewood Island’s lighthouse.  I met a guy at the boat launch by the fox Island bridge.  He picked me up in a small aluminum boat to take me out to the island.  I wasn’t really sure what I was up against, but I brought some gear and some products with me that I thought would do the job.  This was quite a long while back, and I wasn’t even sure what this structure was.  There was no such thing as the internet, google, cell phones, or anything else to do research on this place back then.  I could see the structure from afar and thought that this was going to be a pretty big project for the relatively small amount of products and limited amount of equipment I was able to take with me in this small boat.

When we got to the property, I was pretty much in awe of this huge, and unique structure.  I was also apprehensive of being able to do what I needed to do within some semblance of time management in comparison to the price that was quoted.  Let alone the probability that I was going to be unable to nail down the exact location of a carpenter ant nest that had inhabited this monstrous structure.  We also did not have the type of “non-repellent” products that we have today which technically puts the ants to work for us by transferring residuals throughout the colony.

After a brief tour of this beautiful structure, I set about my inspection process.  I had a been shown an area , of the “Great Hall”, where most of the Carpenter Ant activity had been seen.  This, at least, narrowed the area down for me to concentrate on.  I used a stethoscope to detect sounds in the ceiling of the downstairs level.  Much to my surprise, and delight, I could hear the distinctive “clicking’ noise and a faint rustling of newspaper sound in the ceiling void.  I had found the main colony!!!  I proceeded to drill a few small holes in the ceiling sheetrock and injected product into the void area.  Carpenter ants of every stage and size came POURING OUT.  There were major, minor, and intermediate workers as well as male and female reproductives.  It was instant success!!!!

I have to say this was one of my most memorable experiences in the 35 plus years I’ve been doing pest control.  From the experience of riding out on the boat-to being able to explore this beautiful, and historical structure.  Being able to put my professional experience into “saving”, and helping to protect this structure is one of the many, many proud and memorable moments I have experienced in my career.  I have also had the pleasure of providing service to, and inspecting, old historical churches, famous houses in Tacoma (where celebrities were born and raised), houses where movies were filmed, a local prison (on an island), as well as many, many older historical north end homes and business structures.