Can any of you guys recommend a backyard ant killer that is pet friendly? We have a serious problem right now and I need to treat. The only problem is that neighbors in both sides have dogs and I don't want to spread anything that would harm them. I'm looking for a granular to spread if possible as opposed to an isolated powder that just treats beds. Thanks.

Use products that have the active ingredient fipronil. Very effective on fire ants and commonly used on dogs for treatment of fleas and ticks.

Get an electric kettle and pour boiling water on the mounds. It's safe, and effective if you have a small to medium sized yard. Nothing is 100% effective but for me this has worked just as well as Amdro.

Extinguish

This is the worst year for fire ants I have ever seen. They seem to be everywhere, and not just in mounds. They are all over the patio & all through the grass with no mounds visible. Never seen anything like it.

mt3950 said:

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Can any of you guys recommend a backyard ant killer that is pet friendly? We have a serious problem right now and I need to treat. The only problem is that neighbors in both sides have dogs and I don't want to spread anything that would harm them. I'm looking for a granular to spread if possible as opposed to an isolated powder that just treats beds. Thanks.

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Diatomaceous Earth
https://www.amazon.com/Diatomaceous-Earth-Food-Grade-10/dp/B00025H2PY

What is wrong with Amdro? It is mostly corn. My dog ate a bunch and so I called them. They said the dog would need to consume A Lot to even begin to worry.

aggiedent said:

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This is the worst year for fire ants I have ever seen. They seem to be everywhere, and not just in mounds. They are all over the patio & all through the grass with no mounds visible. Never seen anything like it.

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Exactly what I'm dealing with.

mt3950 said:

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aggiedent said:

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This is the worst year for fire ants I have ever seen. They seem to be everywhere, and not just in mounds. They are all over the patio & all through the grass with no mounds visible. Never seen anything like it.

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Exactly what I'm dealing with.

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I had this happen as well. They'll do that when it gets really hot and dry, and you won't be able to find the mounds. It turned out they were feeding off the fat drippings in my grill. I put a bunch of poison around it, and they were gone in a week.

If you can't find their source, your best bet is to use a broadcast bait (Extinguish is awesome, but not cheap) and treat them that way.

I've used a few squirts of Dawn dishwashing soap in a bucket of water, then poured slowly over a mound. This can be labor intensive if lots of mounds, and obviously not intended for fire ant control over acreage, but in my experience works well in a suburban lawn. There are times where one treatment has worked, and other instances where retreatment was required.

Have also read about spinosad, but have never used.

can also use an orange oil mixture.

AggieRob93 said:

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I've used a few squirts of Dawn dishwashing soap in a bucket of water, then poured slowly over a mound. This can be labor intensive if lots of mounds, and obviously not intended for fire ant control over acreage, but in my experience works well in a suburban lawn. There are times where one treatment has worked, and other instances where retreatment was required.

Have also read about spinosad, but have never used.

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I've used spinosad with some success. Mostly use it around vegetable garden. Sometimes it takes a couple applications.

rootube said:

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Get an electric kettle and pour boiling water on the mounds. It's safe, and effective if you have a small to medium sized yard. Nothing is 100% effective but for me this has worked just as well as Amdro.

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I've done this in some areas around a vegetable garden but it can also kill any grass. Just an FYI for OP.

Growing up, I remember my dad pouring gasoline on the mounds. I assume that's frowned upon now.

I used a fipronil after asking same question last year - it annihilated all ants and they have not been back - counting 12+ months now.... great stuff.

applied with hose end sprayer from same site.

https://www.domyown.com/taurus-sc-termiticide-p-1816.html

I bought several quarts of concentrated Pyrethrin, I believe it's 10% and use 2tbs per gallon and pour directly on fire ant mounds. All ants are dead and the mound is dead in just a few minutes.

completely safe with animals and people. Made from the extract of chrysanthemum flours but deadly to fire ants and wasps.