The widespread flooding in western Palm Beach County in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaac has given rise to some unusual images. Among them are kids waterskiing down streets, ducks swimming up to the door of an engulfed house and people using kayaks to check in on their neighbors.
But perhaps they don’t top the sight of a cluster of fire ants clinging to a make-shift raft.
Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control Director Diane Sauve says that homeowners wading through their flooded yards need to be on the look-out for floating beds of fire-ants.
“What happens during a flooding situation is that ants – which typically are underground – will come out of their beds, so to speak. And they will attach to any debris that’s floating”, Sauve warns, “And you will find large swarms of fire ants that are floating in water.”
Along with the fire ants, Sauve says residents need to be vigilant about other, more dangerous animals displaced by the flooding. The most menacing are snakes – and alligators.