Nova Scotia·Audio

How Louise Renault, CBC Radio host, fought off fire ants

Halloween is a time for scary stories, and CBC’s Information Morning co-host Louise Renault has a tale about frightening creatures living under her lawn.

Information Morning's co-host shares her tips

Louise Renault, CBC’s Information Morning co-host, says she's haunted by stinging European Fire ants.

“Every time I pulled out a weed or moved a plant, my feet became covered in red ants. We were bitten, or rather, stung, including the dog. They marched constantly all over the back deck and I had to, ultimately, garden in tall rubber boots in July — And that sting really hurts," she said.

“I tried several things. I put out a few ant traps with some bait, but the very next morning raccoons had gotten into them and ate all the bait ... I tried pouring boiling water on them and even pulled out a small blow torch at times, but it was really labour intensive and only slightly satisfying in the moment.”

So, Renault decided to find out why almost nothing seems to kill these tenacious critters.

Click on the audio link to hear what finally worked.