Fire ants have been around in Arkansas since about the 1950s, but my most vivid memory of them wasn’t until I lived in Pensacola, Florida. Those little devils are everywhere down there. It is not a matter of if they will show up in your yard but rather when. Fire ants entered the United States through the port in Mobile, Alabama in the 1930s, so it only makes sense that they are so bad in the south.1 In Arkansas and Oklahoma fire ants are predominantly in the southern portions, but they are active in some parts of the River Valley. Fire ants are indicated by red in the above map. They are commonly named fire ants due to their ability to inflict painful stings.
There is a Reason They Are Called "Fire Ants"
Fire ant nests are identifiable by their large, flat irregularly shaped mounds. They are usually quite large, between two and four square feet in size! The most common way they are introduced to an area is via potted plants, shrubs and trees. This is why during certain times of the year many parts of the south are placed under a quarantine prohibiting certain materials like firewood, potted plants, grass sod or baled hay that has come into contact with soil that can’t be shipped to non-quarantine areas.
If you find that you are in an area that has a fire ant problem, it is best to call a professional like Terminator Termite and Pest Control. I can tell you from firsthand experience, home remedies like club soda and grits do not work. If you see a fire ant mound in your yard, you should avoid it because interfering with a fire ant nest will cause them to sting you, resulting in painful blisters. To prevent them from entering your home, be sure to seal all internal and external cracks and crevices.
1 https://www.uaex.edu/media-resources/news/march2017/03-17-2017-Ark-red-ants-active-early.aspx