Managing invasive plants, animals and ants after a natural disaster

Natural disasters such as floods, cyclones and fires can affect the distribution and occurrence of invasive plants (weeds), animals and ants, so it's important that you know what to do when a disaster occurs.

Floods and wet weather often create ideal conditions for invasive plant germination and growth. This can lead to increased amounts of food, which encourages invasive animal populations to grow. Invasive species can also easily be spread by vehicles, machinery and equipment associated with recovery.

The damage from natural disasters can mean you are less able to survey and control invasive species on your property - damage to infrastructure can limit access to some areas to undertake management activities, or you may have a reduced capacity to complete the work due to other higher priority flood recovery needs.

Your goal should be to avoid the movement and establishment of invasive species to new areas – preventing spread is easier than undertaking control activities. But even if invasive species spread, there are many important things you can do.

This guide explains your responsibilities for managing invasive plants, animals and ants after a natural disaster.

Managing invasive animals after a natural disaster

Natural disasters can affect where invasive animals occur on your property. Flooding can lead to increased amounts of food, which encourages invasive animal populations to grow. Damage to invasive animal exclusion fencing may also allow some species to spread.

In some cases there may be a reduction in some invasive fish from areas after significant flood events. It's essential that you understand how to prevent and manage invasive animal incursions after a natural disaster.

Landowner responsibilities

As a landowner, under the Biosecurity Act 2014, you are required to take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risks associated with invasive animals under your control. This is known as the general biosecurity obligation (GBO). You need to be able to identify potential invasive animals early to reduce their long-term effects.

After a natural disaster, you should:

check your property for new invasive animal incursions
undertake effective management practices to reduce invasive animal incursions
regularly monitor your property and follow up treatment to ensure invasive animals do not spread further
report any suspected sightings to your local government or Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23. Biosecurity Queensland works with government agencies, industry and community groups to manage issues related to invasive plants and animals that emerge from natural disasters.

Learn more about controlling invasive animals on your property.

Also consider...

Learn how to manage invasive animals on your property.
Check the FeralScan website to help map pest animals sightings in your area.
Learn how to identify and prevent the spread of invasive fish.
Report an invasive fish.

Preventing the spread of invasive plants after a natural disaster

When a natural disaster occurs, it's important to consider your invasive plant management practices as part of your recovery efforts. The seeds and reproductive parts of many invasive plants enable them to be easily transported over long distances when a natural disaster occurs. Floods and wet weather often create ideal conditions for germination and growth.

As well as being moved by floodwater and wind, invasive plant seeds and plant parts can stick to vehicles, machinery, shoes, clothing, and animal fur. Seeds and plant parts can also spread via soil, mulch, fodder and manure. Learn more about weed seed spread.

Landowner responsibilities

As a landowner, under the Biosecurity Act 2014 you are required to take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risks associated with invasive plants under your control. This is known as the general biosecurity obligation (GBO). Preventing the spread of weeds is easier and cheaper than trying to control an infestation once it occurs.

After a natural disaster, you should:

check your property for invasive plants regularly
control invasive plants with the latest methods
buy fodder that is certified free from invasive plant seeds
join the weed spotters' network Queensland
protect your property to reduce invasive plant impacts
report any suspected prohibited or restricted invasive plant sightings to your local government or Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23. Biosecurity Queensland works with government agencies, industry and community groups to manage issues related to invasive plants and animals that emerge from natural disasters.

Preventing the spread of invasive ants after a natural disaster

Natural disasters such as floods and cyclones can affect invasive ant infestations, which may require specific follow-up activity. Invasive ants under eradication in Queensland are red imported fire ants and electric ants.

After a natural disaster, there is potential for invasive ants to be spread:

Equipment used in restoration work and fodder distribution may spread ants.
Ants may spread by being transported in flood or cyclone debris being cleared from disaster-affected properties.
The disaster can create ideal conditions for invasive ants to breed.

Landowner responsibilities

Fire ants and electric ants are category 1 restricted matter under the Biosecurity Act 2014. Biosecurity Queensland is delivering eradication programs for invasive ants, but all members of the community have a role to play. Residents, businesses and government agencies must appropriately dispose of items that could carry invasive ants, and report any suspect ants to Biosecurity Queensland by calling 13 25 23.

After a natural disaster, you should:

check for invasive ants when working on clean-up activities and report suspect ants. Biosecurity Queensland works with government agencies, industry and community groups to manage invasive ant issues that emerge from natural disasters
comply with biosecurity regulations when moving items that could carry invasive ants
cooperate with biosecurity officers to ensure regular eradication activities can be carried out
continue to check your property or work site over time for any suspicious ants or nests.

Also consider...

Learn more about invasive ants and:
Report any suspected sightings of invasive ants to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.