Imported Fire Ants in the United States

The map below shows the area currently (2022) under a federal quarantine for imported fire ants (IFA).

Fire Ants in western Kentucky (2000 - present)

Fire ant mounds have been periodically detected in western Kentucky since 2000 (in the area in the box on the map below). There have been several detection and eradication events in Calloway County in and around the city of Murray and, more recently, in a national recreation area and a state park in Trigg County.  All known infestations in western Kentucky, shown as points on the second map below, have been/are being eradicated, but surveys and outreach efforts are ongoing.  

Fire Ants in southern Kentucky (2022)

In February 2022, our office was alerted to a fire ant mound in southern McCreary County. Subsequent survey work revealed many more mounds in McCreary County as well as some mounds in neighboring Whitley Counties. Unfortunately, it has been determined that the infested areas is too large for eradication and we are currently working to determine the extent of the infestation.