Letter: Red ants are a scourge worth addressing

In lieu of Eddie Bowman’s letter to the editor about residents redirecting their lawn sprinklers, there is another issue some residents need to tackle: red ants.

Red ant nests are showing up in bare-dirt yards and neglected parkways, and crawling about on sidewalks in our neighborhoods, making it unpleasant for anyone wearing flip-flops or sandals or walking their dogs. These ants have a nasty sting, making them dangerous for small children and toddlers.

Unlike tiny black ants, red ants do not move about in a trail and could easily crawl on an exposed foot or dog’s paw. In numbers, multiple stings could be dangerous to small children and pets.

The city of Burbank needs to ramp it up and warn residents about these voracious pests. This problem should be presented in a future issue of the DWP’s “Currents” newsletter. In the meantime, residents need to become aware of this problem and eradicate red ants. I believe these ants, like most others, are looking for water, food and ideal nesting conditions. What better place to “set up shop” than on neglected lawns and parkways? I believe the drought contributes to this problem Together, I believe the DWP and Burbank residents can seek solutions to make our sidewalks safe to walk on. Also, commercial proprietors, should they have any ants in alleys and parkways in front of their businesses, should take action.

Jodi Lawson

Burbank