Critters in firewood- ants and more

How do I prevent or eradicate ants from infesting my log pile.
I cut the wood a year ago and stacked behind my garage. Recently found lots of ants and their community of eggs. Also see tiny sawdust piles. Not sure what that is.
I purchased a 'shelterlogic' wood shed in hopes of keeping the wood dry and preventing any infestation, not sure that's enough. I live in NE US, zone 7a.
Any advice would be appreciated.

I think the bugs will go away once the wood is dry.  I'm not sure if that Shelter Logic cover lets the wood dry as fast as the sun and wind do.  Ants like to build in my piles too but they tend to go away in the winter when I need the wood.  This is one reason my wood piles are a long ways from the house until they are dry (2+ years).  In the fall I move it up to the house (but still outside) and bring wood in as I need it.

So I guess to answer your question, I don't know of a way to get rid of them.  I'd just let them poke holes in the wood to help it dry

Edit to add:  Looks like your pile may be in the shade.  Moving it into a more sunny spot could help.  And one crazy way to keep ants out would be to elevate your pile above the grass (8" or so) and put water moats around the legs of your wood rack so the ants can't climb up into it.

Richard, welcome to permies! I added you post to the Bugs forum, I hope you don't mind.

Thank you both Anne and Mike.

I use vinegar to kill ants.  I dilute it with water, put in a spray bottle and spray where ants might be.

This might work on your wood.

Doesn't show your location so I'm going to suggest an aardvark or South American anteater. You never know.

Might consider sprinkling with diatomaceous earth occasionally. It works but it must be kept dry & patience is required.

A few years back I used an old solar oven to dry some soggy firewood. I remember seeing some ants & other bugs trying to escape.

The container of water around the legs technique worked for a beehive of mine once. Never did figure out why they wanted to live inside the top cover. Even moving it didn't help. They've never been a problem with any other hive.

Ants & other critters simply like wood. I wouldn't worry about it much. Just take (non-pesticide) precautions not to let them invade inside your house.

Thanks Mike B.
I live in the Northeastern US so don't have much access to an Ardvark, but have been considering the solar oven as an easy way to help dry out the wood and encourage the pests to depart.

Here is a website that  has some designs for solar firewood dryers:

https://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/WoodDrying/wood_kiln.htm

The sawdust piles you are seeing is likely some sort of borer rather than ants.  I am sure killing it you use the same tricks you use to kill any insect.  Heat and water immersion would be the 2 totally permies compatible methods.  drowning will get the bugs.  But it will also increase the dry time.  So heat is probably your best bet.  As for preventing infestation if the wood is clean there are things you can do to help.  1 clean up all debris on the ground around the storage area.  Keep the wood from directly touching the ground.  growing up we simply had a bunch of cinder blocks with the holes vertical that the wood was piled one.  Every time you get the block clear clean the debris out of the blocks.  Keep the wood under some sort of roof.  Even a poor roof keeps most of the moisture off the wood.  My grandparents had a shed that held wood on 3 walls.(4th was open to the sun)  The firewood aged for 3 years so they used one wall a year.  Very little bug trouble.

I talk to them. I tell them where they can go that i won't disturb them ever - like the trunk of a tree still in the ground after felling. I try to ensure they have some safe spots, but i am very firm with them and tell them we need to share. I normally get ants when i'm cutting up the wood,  They come scuttling out. so then i stop and have a serious chat, that I will give them time to move, but i'll be back in a week or two. Always works.