Wendell, NC — Wendell Park is dealing with an unusual problem: Millions of ants have moved in.
Town leaders say the issue has been steadily growing for a decade at the park, which is located at 601 W. 3rd St.
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“Our parks and recreations director was hired about ten years ago, and he said that the ants predated him,” said Tyler Newman, communications manager for the town of Wendell.
The nuisance is hard to miss. From parking lots to soccer fields and wooded areas, the ants are everywhere.
“We’ve heard a lot of concerns from our disc golfers experiencing the ants coming up to them and dealing with colonies nearby to each of the holes on the disc golf course,” Newman said. “Those are the areas where they’ve been the most prevalent.”
The town has now partnered with a team of NC State Entomologists, led by Christopher Hayes, to better understand what’s happening and how to stop it.
“These ants are spraying acid,” Hayes explained. “We came out, and we identified them as Formica Integra, the Eastern mound ant, or the red mound ant. If you step in the wrong place, you can be suddenly covered with thousands of ants.”
Hayes explained that the Eastern mound ants are a native species, but it’s unclear how they multiplied dramatically in the park. The ants are easily identified from other species in the area by their reddish color, and large body.
“While they don't sting, if you have sensitive skin or there's a potential that you could react to the acid that they spray on you, and that's a concern for the public,” Hayes said. “They’re also hyper aggressive. It's a unique situation that enters into my wheelhouse because it is a nontraditional urban pest affecting people in an urban setting.”
For some people, the acidic spray can cause redness and blister-like welts that can last for several days.
The entomologist stated that the ants serve an important ecological purpose, helping with soil quality, pest control, and serving as a food source for other wildlife. He said the issue now is that there are simply too many and it is impacting the ecosystem’s balance.
“I do not know of any other place that has this number and density in such a small area,” Hayes said.
Researchers are also learning more about the behaviors of mound ant colonies, including how they interact with other species also found in the area, such as the invasive Asian Needle Ant.
Hayes and other entomologists began laying bait traps on Friday. Roughly 50 bait traps will be set up as part of a months-long study running through September. The goal is to reduce the population, not eliminate it, because the ants are native to the area.
“The hope is that we have a reduced population to where folks can truly enjoy everything Wendell Park has to offer,” Newman said. “We want to maintain a healthy balance.”
Town leaders say, for now, the issue appears to be isolated to this park, but they’re watching the area closely.
The project will run until September. Until populations are reduced, Hayes recommends parkgoers wear long socks with pants tucked in – and says to watch your step.