How to Kill Fire Ants in a Horse Pasture
Fire ants build colonies underground and thousands are present at one time. Fire ants that have invaded a horse pasture are an especially big nuisance to the horses as well as the owners. With an aggressive nature, these ants will attack anything that is close to the colony. Fire ants have a stinger that injects venom. The venom causes your skin to become irritated with painful red bumps. It is important to kill fire ants in a horse pasture to protect the animals as well as the riders. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Wear protective clothing. Since fire ants sting, wear boots or closed shoes. Put on jeans and tuck them into your shoes or boots. Dress in a long-sleeved shirt and wear gardening gloves.
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Inspect the horse field for fire ant colonies. Explore any large mounds of dirt around the pasture. The ant's colonies could be at most 15 inches high. The color of a fire ant is dark red. They are larger than typical black house ants.
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Check for active fire ants. When the temperature drops below 60 degrees, the ants hide in the shelter. If they do not leave the colonies, the ants will not take the bait.
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4
Buy organic fire ant bait. This includes Biological Pest Control Organic Fire Ant Bait or 1# Fire Ant Killer. These and similar products are available at local home- improvement or gardening stores. Organic, natural fire ant bait will ensure the safety of the horses in the field.
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Sprinkle organic fire ant bait evenly around the base of the mounds. Use 4 tbsp. per mound. The fire ants will pick it up and bring it back to the colony, killing the members. Apply the bait early in the morning or in the evening when the fire ants are hunting for food.
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Wait for about 48 hours and then check for fire ants. If ants are still present, repeat the steps until you can find no more ants.
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Tips & Warnings
Read the label for warnings and application for the specific product. Some fire ant baits have pesticides that can hurt your horses if they swallow them or the grass. Some ant baits suggests that you stable your horses for a full day after use.
