When floodwaters rise in Florida, fire ants float, not away, but straight toward danger. These living rafts can survive for days and swarm anything they touch, delivering painful stings to people, pets, and wildlife.
Key Facts About Fire Ant Rafts:
Formed by thousands of ants linking together to survive floodwaters
Contain queens, workers, and larvae, all ready to rebuild
Will attach to any solid surface, boats, boots, pets, even people
Stings are painful and often delivered in large numbers
After drifting, rafts can land and infest new areas, including homes
Hoffer Pest Solutions helps Florida homeowners stop fire ants before they ever reach raft stage. With proactive treatments and flood-aware prevention, we keep your home protected, even when the storm hits.
Keep reading to learn how to recognize fire ant rafts, avoid contact, and prevent infestations before they take hold.
What Is a Fire Ant Raft?
When their underground colonies flood, fire ants don’t drown. Instead, they perform a survival maneuver that seems almost science fiction: they join together by gripping each other’s legs and mouths to form a living raft. This adaptation is not just instinctive, it’s effective.
Fire ant rafts consist of the entire colony, including workers, queens, and even the developing brood such as eggs and larvae. This ensures the colony’s continuity even in extreme environmental conditions.
The ants have evolved to survive on water for extended periods. Their bodies are coated with a waxy layer and dense, hydrophobic hairs that help trap air. This makes the raft buoyant and water-resistant. Beneath the surface, the ants at the bottom take on the most stress and limited oxygen, but they rotate positions frequently. Ants below rise to the top to breathe and rest, while others take their place. This continuous motion sustains the raft’s structure and the colony’s survival.
Research has shown these living rafts can survive for up to 12 days afloat, searching for dry land. Only living ants are capable of forming and maintaining this dynamic structure, dead ants, lacking grip and awareness, cannot replicate it.
Why Fire Ant Rafts Are More Dangerous Than You Think
It’s one thing to witness a fire ant raft from a distance. It’s another to accidentally come into contact with one. These floating colonies will attach to anything solid they encounter, piles of debris, boats, pets, even unsuspecting people wading through floodwaters. Once contact is made, fire ants rapidly climb to stay out of the water and begin stinging.
These stings are not one-time events. Fire ants sting repeatedly and often in groups, releasing venom that causes intense pain, itching, and sometimes allergic reactions. In disaster recovery zones, where people are already vulnerable, these encounters can quickly become medical emergencies.
There are countless stories of residents and workers being caught off guard, wading through floodwaters only to feel a burning sensation moments later. Images of these masses floating ominously near homes or clinging to docks have been described as nightmare fuel. For many, the mere thought of fire ant rafts induces deep discomfort or fear.
Pets are particularly at risk. Dogs or cats investigating floating debris could become overwhelmed by swarming ants. If your pet gets stung, symptoms may include rapid licking, pawing at the mouth, swelling, or vomiting. Immediate veterinary care is recommended in severe cases.
These are not isolated incidents. In flood-prone regions, especially in South Florida, fire ant encounters spike after major storms. Their ability to survive and relocate by raft means they can spread far beyond their original mounds, establishing new colonies where they land.
What to Do If You Encounter a Fire Ant Raft
The worst thing you can do when you spot a fire ant raft is attempt to poke, push, or break it apart. These floating colonies may look fragile, but they react with alarming speed and aggression. A single tap from a stick, paddle, or oar can trigger a swarm response in seconds. By the time you pull away, dozens, or hundreds, of ants may already be clinging to your gear, your clothing, or your skin.
Fire ants instinctively cling to solid objects to escape the water. They will seize any opportunity to climb, whether it’s a boot, boat, shovel handle, or bare hand. Once attached, they swarm and begin stinging. This reflexive defense makes even indirect contact dangerous during flood cleanup or rescue work.
For those navigating post-storm conditions, appropriate gear is important. Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, rubber boots, and cuffed gloves. Limit exposed skin wherever possible. If using tools like rakes or shovels, dust the handles with talcum powder to deter climbing ants.
It’s also critical to be aware that fire ants don’t just float away once the water recedes. In many cases, they seek dry refuge inside homes, garages, sheds, or under debris. Their small size and mobility allow them to infiltrate walls, floorboards, and insulation. If colonies manage to establish themselves indoors, the infestation can persist long after the flood event ends.
So, do fire ants stay in buildings long-term after floating inside? The answer is yes, if unchecked, they may rebuild nests indoors or in hard-to-reach places, causing recurring issues for months or years to come.
Treatment Options and Prevention Strategies
Once a fire ant raft appears, options are limited. Standard pesticides can’t be used safely in floodwaters, and most DIY methods are only effective in isolated scenarios. At that point, the danger has already arrived.
That’s why prevention is everything, and it starts with professional help. At Hoffer Pest Solutions, we use strategic ant treatments designed to eliminate colonies. By targeting both foragers and deep mound nests, we help stop rafts from forming in the first place. In storm-prone areas like South Florida, our year-round plans give you peace of mind when the next system rolls in.
Stay Afloat, Prepared and Aware
Once a fire ant raft appears, options are limited. Standard pesticides can’t be used safely in floodwaters, and most DIY methods, like using dish soap to break surface tension, are only effective in isolated scenarios.
At that point, the danger has already arrived.
That’s why prevention is everything, and it starts with professional help. At Hoffer Pest Solutions, we use strategic fire ant treatments designed to eliminate colonies before storms strike. By targeting both foragers and deep mound nests, we help stop rafts from forming in the first place. In storm-prone areas like South Florida, our year-round plans give you peace of mind when the next system rolls in.
Contact Hoffer Pest Solutions today to build a fire ant prevention strategy that works, before the waters rise.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a fire ant raft survive?
Fire ant rafts can remain afloat for up to 12 days, using air-trapping hairs and waterproof body coatings to stay buoyant.
Can fire ants sense land or just bump into it?
Fire ant rafts do not navigate with intent. They drift passively with the water’s current until they come into contact with a solid surface, which they instinctively swarm.
Is dish soap safe for pets if used near rafts?
Biodegradable dish soap in diluted amounts (2 oz per gallon of water) is generally safe for limited use. Still, avoid applying near pets or water sources unless advised by professionals.
Are fire ants common in all flood zones?
No. Fire ants are most common in warm, humid regions like the southeastern United States. South Florida, in particular, is a hotspot due to its climate and frequent storms.