[Bonanza]

Fire Ants don't sting, they bite. While you can find them almost anywhere, 99% of the time you will find them in the grass or surrounding the base of a plant. You can see the mound but you may not see the ants. The mound simply looks like a meticulous small, smooth hill of sand, although they can become large if left undisturbed.

You might want to have a small bag of insecticide that you keep for this purpose. Follow the directions on the bag EXACTLY but no, you really don't need to have your lawn treated.

You've pressed an unnecessary panic button. Don't worry about fire ants but just be aware. If a person or animal is severely bitten -- yes, they probably would require the care of a doctor or vet. The chances of a few bites aren't usually a problem except that they itch like hell and it takes a number of days for the itching to go away.

Snakes are all over Florida. Don't worry about them either. I don't walk my dogs near any water just to be safe. You never know if a critter is in the water waiting for a good meal.

RElax and enjoy your company and don't be paranoid. The chances of having a problem are almost non-existent.