We use wood chips, works well if you keep it no deeper than 8", otherwise they burrow and you know not where... you cave them in with your feet! That can be mitigated by burying upside down boxes for them... they won't burrow if an underground place is already provided.
Straw works very well...
I need an Ant pesticide that won't harm rabbits or vegetables. Our Entyre Farm is infested, lots of huge nests, deep in the ground. This week I found them in the wood chips in our rabbit runs. This war ain't gonna be won with baking soda or traps.
Anyone use an ant killer that they like around...