Future queen carpenter ant

6008  Hello we live in Shawnigan Lake BC on Vancouver Island and have been seeing these black ants outside and inside our home over the past few days.  How do we get rid of them is it possible to do this on our own? Are these carpenter ants should we be concerned if we leave them alone will they eventually go away?  Thanks,  Vicki

This is a female reproductive carpenter ant, probably Modoc species. The ant has been fertilized and has removed her wings. (See the scars on her thorax)  She will be seeking wet wood to burrow into and start a new nest. She will lay about 70,000 eggs over the next 15 years.   Read more about carpenter ants.