Wood mulch and carpenter ants

If you confirmed they are carpenter ants, your best bet is to protect your house with a permethrin based perimeter spray. Keep vegetation off the house (weeds/shrubs) and make a nice 6" band all around the foundation just below the wall. Spray twice a summer if you can (early and late). Carpenter ants prefer dead/rotten/wet wood, but they will use dry wood or foam too for nesting.

I've never heard of wood mulch being an attractant for carpenter ants. Chances are they were there before and you just did not notice them. They like rotten wet wood that has not gone into chips yet (they will do that themselves), so remove any wood that may be housing colonies off your property if you can (old pressure treated wood, untreated wood with ground contact). I am assuming you are in the city/suburbs. If you are in the forest you just have to live with them, and keep them out of your building.

Don’t use rubber mulch. It’s toxic. Bugs in the garden is a good thing. Sign of a healthy ecosystem. Leave the wood mulch and enjoy your garden. Wood mulch will not cause carpenter ants to be attracted to your house. No need to spray insecticide.