Interactions between red imported fire ants and mammals have been rarely documented. However, deaths of live-trapped animals by red imported fire ants have been observed. Mortality rates in eastern cottontail ("Sylvilagus floridanus") young range from 33 to 75% because of red imported fire ants. It is believed that red imported fire ants have a strong impact on many herpetofauna species; scientists have noted population declines in the Florida kingsnake ("Lampropeltis getula floridana"), and eggs and adults of the eastern fence lizard ("Sceloporus undulatus") and six-lined racerunner ("Aspidoscelis sexlineata") are a source of food. Because of this, eastern fence lizards have adapted to have longer legs and new behaviours to escape the red imported fire ant. Adult three-toed box turtles ("Terrapene carolina triunguis"), Houston toad ("Anaxyrus houstonensis") juveniles, and American alligator ("Alligator mississippiensis") hatchlings are also attacked and killed by these ants. Despite this mostly-negative association, one study shows that red imported fire ants may be capable of impacting vector-borne disease transmissions by regulating tick populations and altering vector and host dynamics, thereby reducing transmission rates not only to animals, but to humans as well.