Authorities combat invasive yellow crazy ants in Qld's north

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Yellow crazy ants have formed a stronghold in Queensland's north, where they're at risk of causing environmental and economic devastation. Authorities in Townsville have launched their biggest blitz on the invasive species, tackling the insects from the ground and air.

Transcript

00:00 Delmar Cahoon's property has been overrun by tiny acid-spraying invaders.

00:07 Oh yeah, lots of eggs there.

00:10 She's felt helpless to stop the ants spreading across her rural block

00:14 on the outskirts of Townsville.

00:16 We had a major trail along this veranda.

00:19 Eventually reaching inside her house.

00:22 You'd see them crawling on the ceilings, down the walls.

00:25 I'd be lying in bed, you know, "Oh, there's an ant, pull it off."

00:29 Yellow crazy ants are considered one of the world's worst invasive species.

00:34 They will literally wipe out ecosystems from the ground up.

00:38 You'll see all your ants and insects disappear,

00:40 small reptiles, ground-dwelling birds.

00:42 Also threatening agriculture, pets and property values.

00:46 Here in Townsville we have infestations ranging through seven of our suburbs,

00:51 so it's important we get on top of it before it gets any worse.

00:54 After securing $12 million in federal funding,

00:59 the Townsville City Council is hitting the ground.

01:02 And taking to the sky.

01:07 Using helicopters and drones in an effort to eventually eradicate the insects.

01:15 This is the first in a series of up to five baiting blitzes

01:19 in the Townsville area over the next year.

01:21 The Council is targeting 500 hectares of infested land.

01:26 We've been hanging out, waiting and waiting,

01:28 and I do wish it had come a bit earlier.

01:30 Advocates want a longer-term funding model

01:33 to safeguard communities and ecosystems.

01:36 With invasive species, you can't just leave a few.

01:39 It's like rabbits. If you leave a few, they will continue to expand.

01:42 A reality no-one wants to risk.

01:45 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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