Watch Out Arkansas, The State Is Being Invaded By Fire Ants
These days, the word quarantine is synonymous with Covid-19. However, quarantines can be used to quell a slew of scenarios, including a fire ant invasion. No, this isn’t the plot of some sci-fi movie. Arkansas is currently being invaded by fire ants, and because of such, dozens of counties are subject to a federal quarantine.
In June 2021, the USDA expanded its “imported fire ant quarantine” to include four more Arkansas counties - Prairie, Logan, White, and Sebastian.
So, what exactly does the quarantine entail? Well, it basically requires that agricultural products, such as sod, hay, and nursery stock, be certified as “free of fire ants” before being shipped from quarantine counties to non-quarantine areas.
The aim of the quarantine is to prevent or, at the very least, slow the spread of the fire ants, which are much more than a nuisance. They can actually short out electrical equipment, such as AC units.
So, did you know about the fire ant quarantine? Have you personally been affected by the invasive ants? Feel free to share!
Believe it or not, fire ants aren’t the only menacing thing about life in Arkansas. Click here for the biggest risks that come along with life in the Natural State.
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Address: Arkansas, USA
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Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for the past 25 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships, working for The Royal Obsession and Anatomie clothing. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as Parents & Kids Magazine and Girl Meets Strong. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
