We had a problem w/ ants last yr.  For some reason, they were
*everywhere* - little brown ants, big black ants, you name it.  It
was driving me buggy (pun intended)!
 
After doing all the usual stuff (using clear sealer to caulk every hole
I could find, ant traps (that were picked up when the ferrets were out),
etc, I finally gave up & called an exterminator.  I don't know what the
stuff was that he sprayed outside, around the foundation of our house,
but it did *wonders*!  No more ants.....& the extra bonus was, no more
centipedes, which make me even crazier than ants do.
 
I don't think switching from water bottles to crocks had anything to do
w/ it.  I used to only use bottles.  Then I switched to crocks.  Now I
use both.  I always had ants to *some* degree.  But hiring the
exterminator last summer really did the trick.
 
And yes, the exterminator dude told me there was *no danger* to inside
pets from the stuff he used outside.
 
Wish I could be of more help!
 
Lin, Ariel, Oberon, Max, Puck, & Ivan
[Posted in FML issue 5229]