BILLY SHIELDS: It's a good thing school's out at Carver Middle because the campus has taken on a few extra residents.

SIERRA SEEKFORD: Fire ants have been moving up through the southern United States over quite some time now.

And they've reached our county here in Chesterfield, Virginia.

BILLY SHIELDS: That's right, fire ants.

There are at least two ant hills near Carver and some who use the county's dog parks are also getting worried.

MARISSA SNIDER: Oh, yeah.

No, they're not - they're not fun.

It's kind of like...

I mean, they're called fire ants [it] felt like your hands were on fire.

BILLY SHIELDS: Fire ants have been in Virginia since 1989.

But in late May, Chesterfield was placed on the state's quarantine list after several mounds were discovered.

SIERRA SEEKFORD: So, theyre mainly being spread through materials.

And so that's why we're being put under this quarantine to help regulate any materials that might spread the fire ants.

BILLY SHIELDS: Seekford explained that means places like lumber yards and plant nurseries in the county need permits to purchase certain materials.

She says mounds like this one should be left alone.

SIERRA SEEKFORD: So you don't want to disturb the mound at all.

That's very important.

If you disturb the mound, they can actually split and create more mounds so then that's just more that you have to deal with.

BILLY SHIELDS: Seekford says if you suspect fire ant infestation, report it to your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.

Meanwhile, Osiris and Apophis are happily unaware of the nearby dangers.

Their owner says the ants don't worry these pups yet.

MARISSA SNIDER: As long as it's not hurting them.

As long as my dogs are okay, I'm okay.

BILLY SHIELDS: And she hopes they stay out of the dog run at Rockwood Park.

Billy Shields, VPM News.