Ants in the kitchen are the number-one pest call in Western Washington, and they almost always show up the same way: a trail across the counter or along the baseboard, seemingly overnight. Here's what's happening and what to do about it.
The two ants you'll actually see in Kent
- Odorous house ants — tiny, dark, and by far the most common. Crush one and it smells faintly like coconut. They nest outdoors and forage indoors for sweets and moisture.
- Carpenter ants — much larger and black. These matter more, because in our wet climate they tunnel into moisture-softened wood. Big black ants indoors can signal a hidden water problem.
Why they keep coming back
The colony never actually left — it's outside. Spring rain plus new food demand sends foragers indoors, and wiping the trail only removes the scent path for a day. Kent's damp spring and fall are peak ant season for exactly this reason.
What actually works
Store-bought sprays kill the ants you see but not the colony, and can even cause it to split into more colonies. Effective control means treating the nest and the trails together, and — for carpenter ants — finding and fixing the moisture source.
If you've got trails you can't get rid of, read our Kent ant control page or request a free quote and get matched with a local pro.
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