Livestock Pastures or Rangeland Fire Ant Management

• Introduction
• The Problem
• Developing a Management Plan

• Farmstead or Headquarters
• Hay Pastures
• Livestock Pastures or Rangelands
• Farm Ponds
• Orchards
• Field Crops

• Bait Basics
• Individual Mound Treatments
• More Information
• Disclaimer
• Contributors
• Print this Lesson

Helicopter preparing for aerial fire ant treatment. Photo by Bart Drees.

Imported fire ant foragers can quickly recruit other ants to food and moisture resources. Newborn livestock and wildlife, birds hatching from eggs, and confined animals are particularly vulnerable to attack by imported fire ants, although reported cases of injury are not common. During the hot summer months, the frequency of livestock injury and deaths increases dramatically because the ants are starved for food and moisture. For this reason, scheduling fertility programs to avoid calving during hot summer months can help prevent this problem. When calving is scheduled for the summer months, placing cows in a designated calving pasture that has been treated to reduce fire ant populations may be justifiable and cost effective.

The ants are not known to harm mature animals other than ostriches and emus that, reportedly, can go into shock when stung. Although tall ant mounds can become numerous and unsightly, they cause little economic damage. Fire ant mounds may reduce property values during land sale transactions. Imported fire ants can reduce populations of some other pests such as lone star ticks and forage-feeding caterpillar species.

Treatments for livestock pastures or rangelands include those products registered for hay pastures (see above) as well as others. For instance, Award (fenoxycarb)fire ant bait is registered for use in horse pastures. Extinguish Plus can be used in animal holding pens. Other products are available for use in nonagricultural land that is not being used for animal or plant production. Some insecticide product labels for fire ant control, particularly those considered to be organic, do not list all approved use sites. When in doubt, contact the manufacturer for clarification.