Carpenter Ant Control

Carpenter ants are the defining structural pest of western Washington. They tunnel into damp or weakened wood to nest, and in our coastal, wooded climate they are one of the most common — and most damaging — ant problems on Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands. Salty Dog Pest Control treats the colony at its source and helps you correct the moisture conditions that invite them back.

How carpenter ants are different

Unlike nuisance ants that just raid the kitchen, carpenter ants excavate galleries in wood to nest. They favor damp, softened, or previously water-damaged wood — crawl spaces, siding, window and door frames, decks, and rooflines. A mature colony also builds satellite nests, which is why treating only the ants you see rarely solves the problem.

Signs of a carpenter ant problem

• Large black (or red-and-black) ants indoors, especially in spring
• Fine, sawdust-like frass beneath wood, often with insect fragments
• A faint rustling in walls or ceilings
• Winged swarmers near windows
• Damp or damaged wood around the foundation, deck, or roofline

How we treat carpenter ants

We inspect to locate the parent and satellite nests and the moisture conditions feeding them, then apply targeted treatments to the colony and create an exterior barrier to stop re-entry. We will also point out the moisture issues — leaks, poor drainage, wood-to-soil contact — that make a home attractive to carpenter ants in the first place. For nests tied to crawl spaces, we coordinate with our crawl space restoration and exclusion work.

Why DIY carpenter ant control usually fails

Store-bought sprays kill foragers but leave the parent nest and satellites untouched, and can even cause a colony to split. Effective control means finding and treating the nests — that is where professional treatment pays off.

Carpenter ant FAQ

Do carpenter ants cause as much damage as termites? They work more slowly, but over time carpenter ant galleries can cause real structural damage — especially in the damp wood common in island homes.

Can you keep them from coming back? Yes — combining colony treatment with an exterior barrier and moisture correction is what keeps them out long-term.

Meet your technician

Carpenter ant work is led by Matthew Pasquale, owner and lead technician (WSDA structural pest license #101709).

What our customers say

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
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 Chris Irish 
 
 
 
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Matthew is a rockstar! He came out on a Friday night after a full day to make sure we were taken care of! Highly recommend!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Kristi Lovelady 
 
 
 
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Prompt, efficient and on-time service. Invoices provide written and visual information of service rendered. Mathew is very professional and knowledgeable.  Would recommend Salty Dog services.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Michele C. 
 
 
 
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We really like Salty Dog!  Matthew is very responsive and always on time.  His reports are thorough, he is on time and works with our needs!  Thank you Matthew!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Brenda Praggastis 
 
 
 
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Matthew is conscientious and careful. He has worked closely with us to address all of our concerns. He has tailored his efforts to the unique demands of our house as he performed an exclusion. The rodent activity has disappeared inside the house and has been vastly reduced outside. We are very happy with his work.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Sharon Heiber 
 
 
 
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Matthew solved our mouse problem! He quickly identified their entrance point and blocked it. That was last year. We haven't had a problem since. Thank you, Matthew!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Sandi Peterson 
 
 
 
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We had not done pest control for quite some time, (our bad) and one day I needed service right away.   Matthew came ASAP and got us started on the right track.  He did work above and beyond what I expected for a more than fair price and shows up for scheduled maintenance as promised.   He does a great job and I recommend him highly.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Rodger Schnee 
 
 
 
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Matt at Salty Dog is both personal and professional, and provides services that are high quality, and very reasonably priced. He is clearly a service provider first and last. I've had previous experiences(with pest services and other) with national companies, when I felt I was sent a representative that was sales first, service provider 2nd. Matt is also well networked with contractors in our community, and gave me a couple great referrals for other work I needed done. The bottom line is that I highly recommend Salty Dog and Matt for any rodent/pest related issues.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Nicholas Orozco 
 
 
 
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Extremely helpful and quick service who took his time and treated the issues that I had on the spot. I absolutely felt like the work was quality and he did not rush until I was satisfied with what was done. Thank you very much for the help!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 britt buchan 
 
 
 
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We’ve had an excellent experience with Salty Dog Pest Control. Matt’s attention to detail is outstanding, and what really sets him apart is his passion for treating the root of the problem—not just applying a quick fix. He took the time to explain what was going on, what he was doing, and why, which gave us a lot of confidence in the process.

His communication is clear, timely, and thoughtful from start to finish. It’s obvious he truly cares about his work and his clients. Highly recommend Salty Dog Pest Control if you’re looking for someone knowledgeable, thorough, and genuinely invested in doing the job right.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
    
 
 

Get your free estimate

Call (360) 206-3293 or request an estimate below. Serving Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Freeland, Langley, Clinton, Greenbank, Anacortes, La Conner, and the surrounding islands.