No, not without chemicals. That has been a question for almost 90 years since they first landed on US shores in 1918 in Mobile. I would suggest you use Amdro bait and cover the compost pile with plastic to keep the birds from eating it. Once the queen is dead from being fed the Amdro, the colony dies. My number 2 suggestion is to make several holes in your compost pile and fill each hole with an insecticide.

I've gotten them to leave my compost pile by turning it. Of course, you have to be careful while doing so and may even need to abandon the chore on the first try when they start to swarm. Just go back to it a little later and finish.

Is this compost you'll be using in a vegetable garden? If so, I've read that Amdro is not approved for use IN vegetable gardens and would think compost that contains it might not be a good thing to add to one. Instead, it is suggested to spread it around the boundaries of the garden and let the worker ants carry it back into the mound to be fed there. Maybe the same principle would work on a compost pile?

There are also fire ant baits with an organic active ingredient, spinosad. Several companies make this product now, under a variety of brands.

I agree with SW. Turn your compost once or twice a week. The ants like the compost because it is generally warm, but they don't like to be disturbed.

schotzel, you have some options, as you can see. Remember that if you decide to go with turning the compost heap a few times a week, you won't 'get rid' of the ants, but simply cause them to move to another location. That might be a good option for you.

If, however, you want to eliminate some of the fire ant population, use one of the BAITS but take care NOT to disturb the ants. An earlier post from swjonthebay gave a good warning against using Amdro in your compost if you intend to use it in a veggie garden. The ants will find it if you sprinkle a bit around the perimeters. The Spinosad baits can be used around edible crops.

Thanks for the info on the Spinosad baits for fire ants. My hubby is from New England and doing his first veggie garden down here in Mobile. So I will pass this info along to him. I am diabetic and cannot take chances on multiple fire ant bites.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll try to find something with spinosad in it. The compost is for both flower and vegetable gardens. Actually I get "freebie" squash and watermelon plants from the compost. I have a large area where I move the compost pile from place to place. Over time we have a most productive garden spot for any veggies I need.

You may try grits. I have been using them for a while with some luck. As I understand it the bring it to the queen she eats it and it swells killing her and the rest will leave or die as well. Hope this helps. ;-)

illiana, congratulations! You are the FIRST person of the new year to suggest grits for fire ants! Smile.

It's a total myth, however. Grits might make them pack their suitcases and move, but ants can't eat them. Especially the queen, who takes every bit of her food in liquid form.