Fire ants: the short answer
Fire ants can't be eliminated from a region, but they can be controlled in your yard. The approach Alabama sources describe is a two-step method: spread a fire ant bait across the whole lawn, then treat individual mounds that are causing problems. Don't disturb mounds, and get medical help right away for anyone who has trouble breathing after stings. Call (334) 555-0147 to speak with a local pest control company in the Prattville area.
How to recognize fire ants
- loose, crumbly mounds of soil, often after rain, with no obvious entrance hole on top
- ants that swarm out fast when the mound is disturbed
- stings that burn and leave small, itchy white bumps that can last a week or more
For ants inside the house, see ant control. For the rest, see our overview of pest control services in Prattville.
How urgent is it?
Urgent if someone is allergic.
The Encyclopedia of Alabama notes that a few people are allergic to fire ant venom and can die from anaphylactic shock. Mounds near play areas, doorways or where pets lie deserve quick attention.
Fire ants in Alabama
Imported fire ants first entered the US through the port of Mobile. The black species likely arrived around 1918 and the red species between 1933 and 1941. Today they're found in all 67 Alabama counties. Because they're established across the Southeast, eradication is no longer possible, so control is site by site.
The two-step method and other options
- Broadcast bait: often the most cost-effective and environmentally sound option for a whole yard.
- Individual mound treatments: contact insecticide or bait on specific mounds, which works for a few colonies.
- Two-step: broadcast bait plus mound treatments together.
- Long-lasting broadcast insecticides: the most expensive option, usually reserved for places that need the highest level of control.
Our guide to getting rid of fire ants in your yard walks through timing and safety.
What happens during treatment
Yard inspection
The technician maps active mounds and problem areas.
Broadcast bait
Bait is spread across the lawn so foraging ants carry it to colonies.
Mound treatments
Problem mounds near walkways, doors and play areas are treated directly.
Repeat as needed
New colonies move in over time, so many yards need treatment more than once a year.
What affects the cost
- Yard size: broadcast treatment is priced by area.
- Number of mounds and how close they are to the house.
- Product and frequency: baits, long-lasting products and repeat visits differ.
See the pest control cost guide.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Will you use a broadcast bait, mound treatments or both?
- How long until I see results, and how often will you come back?
- Is it safe for kids and pets to use the yard, and when?
Fire ants around Prattville
Larger lots and yards next to open land, such as in Kingston Hills and Pine Level, see a lot of mounds, and so do new lawns in Highland Farms and Magnolia Ridge.
What to have ready when you call
- roughly how big the yard is and how many mounds you see
- whether kids or pets use the yard, and anyone with sting allergies