Fire Ants!!!

[nswain]

They are everywhere, all over the park, all over the neighborhood... and now the fire ants are all over my yard!!! I think because of all the wet weather this summer, the ants are much worse than usual :(
Yesterday I was out in my backyard with my neighbor's 9 yr old daughter, and we both got bitten all over our ankles - those dang things HURT! What's funny is that Grumpy will lie in the yard for hours, then come in COVERED in bites... you would think the silly dog would get up and run away when the fire ants started biting
Does anyone know a safe, natural way to get rid of fire ants????? Don't want to use anything toxic out in the backyard, as Grumpy will most certainly eat whatever I spread and/or spray out there. HELP....

 

[simmons]

I know what you mean!!!! It has rained about everyday here and thier are ant farms covered in my yard....and their huge.

Hopefully someone can answer your question, I'd like to know as well!

 

[electric1]

Try spreading some Cream of Wheat or Malt-O-Meal on main part of their den and along any visible trails. The ants will see this as a food source and carry it back into the den to feed the queen. Since the ants naturally produce formic acid in their bodies, upon ingesting either of the two ingredients will cause the ants body to swell and kill it. I know this sounds crazy, but I tried it and it actually worked. You may have to repeat the process several times, like I did, before you notice any improvements or the decrease in the amount the ant population.

 

[karen mambo]

talc powder

I have never tried this myself and I have no clue as to how it works (or even if it does work) but my hairdresser (who owns a boxer) sprinkles talc powder into and around the ants nest.

Good luck.
Karen

 

[jimseabee]

Corn meal works also. it works like the cream of wheat. you can also mix borax and Nutrosweet - (it kills ants) and sprinkle it around the nests. you can use boric acid around the foundation of the home and along the edges of the fencing.

 

[Austin's Mom]

You can use black pepper, too.

 

[nswain]

Thank You Everyone!!!!

Thanks so much for all the suggestions... I have some boric acid in the house somewhere I think (from deodorizing the whole place after the last time Grumpy got sick ) so I'll go spread that around...
At least I will if it ever stops raining... I am starting to feel like I live in Seattle or something, we NEVER get this much rain in Texas.
I'll try the cornmeal or cream of wheat and black pepper too -my yard is going to smell like a kitchen!!! At least when Grumpy decides to sample all of this, she won't be eating anything worse than what's in most commercial dog foods :D

 

[jimseabee]

I'll try the cornmeal or cream of wheat and black pepper too -my yard is going to smell like a kitchen!!! At least when Grumpy decides to sample all of this, she won't be eating anything worse than what's in most commercial dog foods :D

LOL thats for sure

 

[jontiff]

I feel your pain - we just moved from the south after living there for 11 years. I don't ever want to go back. My poor dogs & kids got eaten up by the fire ants too (along with all the other yucky bugs). My neighbor's dog died of a black widow bite and Elvis, my son and I just about stepped on a copperhead the evening before we moved- luckily I saw it in time.

Funny you mentioned Seattle as we just moved to the Seattle area - I love it here. I'm convinced that you get less wet here in the rain then you do in the south in the humidity. The rain here is slow and steady vice a torrential downpoor with tornados, thunder and lightning. It's easy to continue plans in the light rain- just need a rain jacket and some waterproof boots and your set.

As for the ants- we also tried some of the natural remedies mentioned with some luck. The problem I had was that they accumulate & regroup so fast it's nearly impossible to keep up with them. And like you said, you can treat your yard but there are always the parks and fields that are laden with them too. I wish you all the best - don't mess with Texas!

 

[shannonmac]

Kneesaa got attacked by fireants one time, it was not a pretty site, I had to rush to get her benedryl, b/c for once (and only once!) we were all out in the house, my boyfriend had to monitor her breathing while I ran to the store, it was very scary!!!
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/shannongmac/kneesaaants.jpg

i got attacked by them once too, but i jumped in the pool!