Anyone who has spent much time outdoors in East Texas knows the frustration of fire ants. Whether you’re mowing the yard, walking through a hay meadow, or checking fences, those mounds seem to pop up overnight. The good news is that fall is one of the very best times to make a dent in their populations.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension research has consistently shown that fall and spring are the two peak seasons when fire ants are actively foraging for food. When temperatures are moderate—between 70 and 85 degrees—worker ants are busy collecting food to support their colonies. This makes bait applications most effective because foraging ants will quickly pick up bait granules and carry them back to the queen and brood
AgriLife specialists recommend what’s called the “Two-Step Method” for fire ant control. Step one is a broadcast bait treatment across your yard, pasture, or other infested area. The key here is to use a fire ant–specific bait product labeled for your site, and to apply it when the ground is dry and no rain is expected for at least 24 hours. Even more important—apply when ants are foraging. A simple test is to drop a potato chip or hot dog slice near a mound; if ants find it within 20–30 minutes, conditions are right to spread bait.
Step two is to follow up with mound treatments only where needed. Some mounds may persist after baiting, and in high-traffic areas like gardens, play yards, or near barns, a direct mound drench, dust, or granule treatment can provide quick relief. But remember: treating individual mounds without the broadcast step is only a temporary fix. It does nothing to address colonies you haven’t spotted yet.
For pastures and hay meadows, there are several bait products labeled for use around grazing animals. AgriLife recommends closely reading the label for restrictions and application timing, as some products may have limits related to hay harvest or animal consumption.
Another advantage of treating in the fall is the long-term benefit. When you reduce fire ant numbers before winter, colonies have less chance of rebounding in early spring. That translates to fewer mounds, less damage, and fewer stings next year. In fact, studies show that consistent fall treatments can suppress fire ants for much longer than spring treatments alone.
A final reminder—fire ant control is never “one and done.” They are invasive pests, and reinfestation from surrounding areas is inevitable. But using the Two-Step Method in the fall and repeating as needed in the spring is the most reliable, research-proven strategy to keep numbers down.
If you’d like more information, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension maintains an excellent online resource at https://fireant.tamu.edu. There you’ll find fact sheets, management guides, and specific recommendations for homeowners, ranchers, and land managers.
So this fall, when the weather cools and ants are on the move storing up food for the winter, take advantage of the season. A well-timed fire ant control program now can mean a much calmer spring—and fewer painful surprises underfoot.
