Where Do Ants Go During Winter?

It’s not all that often you see an army of ants marching across the kitchen counter in the dead of winter. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t nearby. Ants are very successful at overwintering in the great outdoors, including our own yards.

During the fall months, ants indulge in vast amounts of food with the goal of putting on fat to survive for weeks on end without eating. As the winter chill arrives, their body temperature – and productivity – significantly decreases, so they seal up their colony and hunker down in deep soil or under rocks until spring. Once the temperature rises, ants will emerge from their overwintering sites, full of energy and ready to crash your next backyard barbecue.