Red Ants, around here anyways, are Harvester Ants and are actually beneficial. They are food for Horned Toads, which are in short supply around here, meaning extinct, because the dam fire ants have taken over the habitat and they eat everything including Horned Toad eggs and babies. I don't see that many Harvester Ant beds around here anymore, but when I do, I leave them be. They bite but they aren't aggressive, like Bill said. Fire ants won't quit.
I miss seeing Horned Toads. They were everywhere when I was a kid and I haven't seen one in 30 years.