I went horseback riding in Vermont last summer, but ain't seen one around here in all my years. I'm sure one will be by any day now....any day! :)

They are all snuggled down in your compost heap Hank. They don't do any damage and help with the composting.

Lots of ants usually means the compost has got too dry - lots of ants in the lid or on top often means the compost is now wet after being quite dry, and thus too wet for the ants, who are trying to make their escape to drier places.

We have hundreds of ants nests, it seems that whenever I move a pot, stone or stump - there's an ants nest! Even when just digging out small holes to plant some wild flowers in the meadow grass I dug into about five nests. No wonder the green woodpecker is often up there digging about in the grass, I always thought he was after the grubs of the Crane fly.

Oh well, if they’re helping no harm done I suppose.

I never had to worry about ants. I know they are there. They have their job to do and I have mine.

I turned the lid on my dalek upside down with half a dozen holes drilled through the handle so that it collects rain & drains onto the compost to keep it more moist. Just put a bowl of Sempervivums on top to weigh it down.
When ants are a nuisance I'm convinced that cinnamon powder can help. Weather permitting...

Thanks D, when there’s no horse poo, use cinnamon.

It may be that cinnamon powder gets into ants joints & spoils their plans? I may be completely daft but if ants are a nuisance it's worth a try?

I have one of these bins but usually use compost bins made of pallets. I find the bin does get too dry even if you leave the lid off.