How to Keep Ants Out of Your Trail Camera

As it starts warming up outside, you'll notice insects coming out of their dormant states and becoming more active, including ants. While ants may not be at the forefront of your mind during hunting season, they can significantly impact your trail camera during the summer. Ensure your equipment stays in the best condition possible by preventing ants from eating through the seals on your camera and learning why they're drawn to cameras in the first place.

Why Are Ants Attracted to Cameras?

While it may seem that ants are specifically attracted to your trail camera, they're actually drawn to any electronic device. Whether they find their way to an air conditioning unit or a radio, ants will congregate around anything electrical. 

The electricity from trail cameras produces a warmth that scientists believe is the main source of attraction for ants. If they are looking for a place to nest, this warmth is a comfort, which causes them to swarm your camera, potentially leading them to chew their way through the rubber seals to get closer to the heat. 

Ants gnawing through your camera's housing could be electrocuted, which — instead of causing them to flee — produces a pheromone that signifies an attack, attracting others. Scientists haven't determined if battery-powered electronics attract ants more than household devices, but overall, your camera's warmth is the main reason behind the appearance of these insects.

How Do Ants Get in Trail Cameras?

Despite trail cameras becoming more advanced with waterproof casing, ants still find a way inside. Once ants are inside your trail camera, they can cause significant damage by interfering with the wiring, chewing through seals and ports or laying eggs in the camera's housing.

Their entry points are most likely the tiny holes that allow the microphone to capture any surrounding noises. These holes also equalize pressure by accounting for temperature and air changes, making them a necessary part of any functional camera. To keep your hunting equipment safe from harm, you'll need a specific strategy to prevent ants from swarming your camera and damaging it.

How to Keep Ants Out of Your Trail Camera

You can implement plenty of home remedies to decrease the likelihood of ants entering your camera. Most of these solutions require materials you'll likely have on hand, such as:

• Dryer sheets: Placing an unscented dryer sheet in your trail camera's housing can provide an extra barrier of protection, preventing ants from interfering with the wiring.
• Duct tape: Similar to a fly trap, placing duct tape with the sticky side up around your trail camera can debilitate and trap the ants, keeping your device safe.
• Bay leaves: Since the scent of bay leaves drives ants away, try hanging a few leaves around your camera. This will repel ants and serve as a form of camouflage.

Browse Our Range of Moultrie Trail Cameras Today

At Moultrie, we've been providing outdoorsmen with top-quality hunting equipment for years. To find a trail camera ideal for your needs, browse our selection and enhance your hunting experience this season.