Fire ants are part of life in Alabama, but a yard full of mounds isn't something you have to accept. The approach Alabama sources describe is site-by-site control, usually with a two-step method. Here's how it works, when to do it and how to stay safe. For the service itself, see fire ant control, or our overview of pest control around Prattville.
A short history
According to the Encyclopedia of Alabama, imported fire ants entered the US through the port of Mobile, the black species around 1918 and the red species between 1933 and 1941. They now occur in all 67 Alabama counties. Because they're established across the Southeast, eradication isn't possible, so the goal is control in the places you use.
Step 1: broadcast a bait across the yard
Foraging workers carry bait back to the colony, including colonies you can't see. The Encyclopedia of Alabama calls broadcast baits often the most cost-effective and environmentally sound option. Apply them when ants are actively foraging and the ground is dry, following the label.
Step 2: treat the problem mounds
Mounds near walkways, doors, play areas and where pets lie get individual treatment with a contact insecticide or bait. Treating mounds alone works only for a few colonies, which is why it's paired with the broadcast step.
Safety
- don't kick or disturb mounds, and keep kids and pets away from them
- stings leave small, itchy white bumps that can last a week or more
- a few people are allergic to fire ant venom, and the Encyclopedia of Alabama notes they can die from anaphylactic shock, so get emergency care for breathing trouble or swelling after stings
- follow the product label and re-entry times exactly
Expect to repeat
New colonies move in from neighboring land, especially on larger lots near open space like Pine Level and Kingston Hills. Many yards need treatment more than once a year. A professional program handles timing and products for you.
Timing and weather
Baits work only when workers are out foraging, so follow the label on timing. Most labels call for applying bait when the grass and ground are dry and no rain is expected, because wet bait loses its appeal. Mound treatments are easiest to judge a few days after a rain, when new mounds show up clearly.
Natural enemies
The Encyclopedia of Alabama notes that fire ants have natural controls, including other ant species, microscopic parasites and viruses, and three introduced species of parasitic Pseudacteon flies being studied as part of the Alabama Fire Ant Management Program. Broadcast baits target foraging fire ants rather than everything in the soil, one reason they're favored for lawns.