Managing pest animals
Invasive (pest) animals have significant economic, environmental and social impacts on Queensland’s primary industries, natural ecosystems, and human and animal health.
Invasive animals reduce the viability of primary industries, which account for a significant proportion of Queensland’s export income.
Invasive animals can create a general nuisance and interfere with the liveability of an area, particularly in urban and rural residential areas. Some of the negative impacts of invasive animals include:
- destruction of habitats and natural resources including reduction in water quality, increased soil erosion and land degradation, and destruction of native plants that provide food and shelter to native species
- competition with native animals for food and shelter
- destruction of pastures and crops
- creation of general nuisance in urban and rural residential areas and associated management
- reduction of nature-based tourism due to destruction of natural resources
- potential and actual disease transmission
- predation of, and attacks on, domestic poultry and small pets
- creation of dangerous driving conditions - invasive animals often wander onto roads, and locust swarms reduce visibility
- reduction of the community's enjoyment of natural areas
- general nuisance and disturbance in urban areas
- increased cost of managing these species.
Biosecurity Queensland is responsible for coordinating the management of impacts of introduced mammals, reptiles and amphibians, as well as dingoes, locusts, ants and fish.
Invasive ants
Specific ant species are considered invasive in Queensland due to their ability to spread across regions and significantly affect our environmental and agricultural sectors.
Invasive ant species of most concern are:
Electric ants, fire ants and yellow crazy ants are serious invasive species. You should be aware of movement restrictions, eradication operations in your area and how to identify and make a report if you discover one of these invasive species.
Contact us
If you would like to know more about managing invasive animals, contact us online, by phone or in person.
Related information
- View the listing of pest animals.
- Find out about controlling pest animals on your property.