Finding any type of ant in your yard is never a fun experience, but when those ants are fire ants, you know you need to act quickly. Between their painful stings and their massive populations, it’s important to act fast.
Before you start searching for fire ant control near you, you’ll want to better understand why fire ants are attracted to your yard and what you can do to get rid of them for good. Let’s look at some key facts about these ants and how you can mitigate their impact on your yard and well-being.
Where Are All These Fire Ants Coming From?
Fire ants stay outdoors for the most part and only come inside when scouting the area for food. But what draws fire ants to your yard? Believe it or not, many new colonies end up being introduced to the area by hitching rides on plants.
If you’re an avid gardener and just added several new bushes or shrubs to your property, the ants were likely in the root ball when you planted the shrubs. And the closer those plants are to your home, the more likely fire ants will make it inside. Even if you haven’t done much landscaping on your property, fire ants may end up in your yard due to your neighbor’s activities. Regardless, the best thing you can do is schedule professional fire ant control services as soon as you see signs of them on your property.
Mistakes Homeowners Make To Attract Fire Ants
Like most ants, Santa Clarita fire ants seek food like greasy residue on grills, backyard picnics, messy garbage cans, and more. But they also will happily consume other insects in your yard. Here are a few common ways that even the most well-meaning homeowners end up attracting fire ants into their yards:
- Not cleaning their barbecue grills regularly
- Letting outdoor trash cans get messy
- Thinking that pest control for fire ants is the only type of treatment their yards need
- Letting insect infestations around the yard and house go unchecked
- Not keeping their kitchens clean
By avoiding these mistakes and scheduling routine fire ant treatment services, you’ll greatly reduce your risk of fire ant infestations indoors and out.
Effective Tips Homeowners Can Use To Minimize Fire Ant Activity
Though the best way to deal with fire ants is to work with professional fire ant pest control, there are still a few things you can do to keep your home safe and free of fire ants in the long run. Here are a few simple prevention tips to implement around your home and yard:
- Seal cracks and crevices around your home to keep ants from entering the house.
- Avoid stepping in or getting close to fire ant mounds in your yard.
- Let an expert remove any mounds as soon as you find them.
- Keep your outdoor kitchen areas clean and free of food residue.
Try implementing these tips around your home today. With a little effort, you’ll keep your property safer.
Why Professional Fire Ant Treatment Is Worth It
If you already have fire ants on your property, getting rid of them isn’t always easy. You risk disturbing their mounds and getting stung if you get too close. Worse, even if you think you’ve taken care of the full infestation, there’s a chance that part of the colony survived.
Professional fire ant control services can safely remove and eliminate existing fire ant infestations from your yard. And if you don’t have an infestation, professional treatments can help prevent fire ants from building mounds in the first place. If you’re ready to protect your property, contact us today to schedule an appointment.