Fire Ants 

After two major storms in Raymond, the Fire Ants have come up out of the ground by the millions. There are dirt mounds everywhere. Across the lawns, by the side of trees, fire hydrants, playgrounds, and even by the court house steps. Most of us who live here give the ants a wide walk around, knowing that a misstep can result in immediate burning pain. It is amazing just how fast a Fire Ant can react to their nest being touched. And once they lock onto you, it’s a struggle to pull them off your skin. They’re like little pit bulls. They won’t let go. Then, for the grand prize, each bite you receive will form a pustule on top of a red welt.

Most people in town resort to poison. Unfortunately, “love Mother Earth” is a foreign concept here. No one makes the connection that if you spread a whole bunch of poison and it rains, the poison eventually goes into our drinking water and our plants. I have found that if you annoy the ants enough, they will pack up and move away to the neighbor’s lawn or property. This has worked out quite well for me and I wish others would do the same. Simply use the hose from a safe distance, or take a shovel and plunge it into the ant hill. You gotta be quick though. They’re fast as lightning. I’ve had to drop the shovel more than once and run. So far, the score is: ants 2, humans 1.