Hey all, I'm here for some help with the fire ants in the yard. There's far too many of them, and they're under all the big rocks that used to house the brown snakes - which seem to have disappeared, though there's still plenty of earth snakes (found five just today). I reeeaally want to kick the ants out so that the snakes and skinks and such can move back in.

So, I researched safe, natural ways to rid of them, and came up with two methods I was going to try - cinnamon and black pepper. But then, as I researched whether or not these methods would hurt the snakes and other animals, I found out that apparently cinnamon oil deters snakes, and that (cayenne) pepper might burn their skin, though apparently that doesn't really work because they're scaly...another thing I thought I might try was (pepper)mint, but I know that can hurt some mammals so I thought it wouldn't be a good idea.

Is the sugary-cinnamon stuff the same as cinnamon oil in that it will drive the snakes away? And if I sprinkle black pepper on/around the anthills and under the rocks, will it hurt the snakes? I'd really be very grateful to hear from your experience, and if there's anything else I can use that will get rid of -just- the ants, please share - those biting suckers need to leave A.S.A.P. In fact, one of the earth snakes I picked up had an ant sticking onto him and I had to get it off! Normally the earthies are quite calm but this poor little guy was freaking out!

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