First time to Florida with our new 5th wheel and we’re gonna dry camp in an open field with a bunch of other campers in tents,travel trailers, motor homes and 5th wheels at the Sun-n-Fun Fly-in near Lakeland, Fla. The people parked across from us were in a tent with a great big cooler full of campout goodies sitting next to it.
They saw us out spraying the 5th wheels tires and stabilizers and asked what we were doing. Making a barrier so the fire ants don’t get in we replied. They can smell food or sweets a mile away and can “somewhat magically” walk right into a plastic cooler. I told them we had extra spray if they wanted to spray a border around their tent and slip the cooler inside while they were out and about the Fly-in. They said they didn’t see any ants around and weren’t worried about it but thanks. Probably shoulda told em to set an open pop can on the ground and check it in a couple hours{the Fla. Fire Ant Test}.
Anyway the next morning we heard alot of noise coming from the “tenters” campsite. The fire ants had found a way into their cooler AND invaded the tent. They only had a couple of bites but all the coolers goodies were covered in ants{Lots and Lots of ants} and had to be discarded or hosed off. They found out the hard way that you don’t have to see em to know that Florida’s fire ants mean business. Bet next time they bring “The Spray”.
Submitted by Steven Phillips of Montrose, MI as a part of the RV Centennial Celebration “Share Your Favorite RV Memory” contest.
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