It\u2019s suspected the grass seeds were inadvertently brought into the town on the cars driven by visiting tourists, where they lay dormant until the weather suddenly changed.<\/p>\n
Liam Anderson from the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board explained to Yahoo News that the plants sprout after significant rains, usually of at least 20mm.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve received a fair bit of rain over the last three or four weeks, so the germination went out of control,\u201d he told Yahoo News.<\/p>\n
There are multiple invasive grasses that threaten South Australian towns, including African lovegrass <\/a>which was recently found to have spread on the Limestone Coast.<\/p>\n But across the Eyre Peninsula, there’s one plant more than any other that drives fear into the hearts of experts.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it comes to weeds, buffel grass is our top priority,” Anderson said.<\/p>\n Is an invasive plant spreading into your property? Contact newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a><\/p>\n This buffel grass plant was one of several discovered at Arno Bay. Source: Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board<\/p>\n Simple rules to stop the spread of buffel grass<\/p>\n Anderson discovered the buffel grass during a routine patrol of the town after the downpour.<\/p>\n As it\u2019s a declared notifiable weed across the state, he used a chemical cocktail containing the herbicides glyphosate and flupropanate, along with pine oil, to suppress the plant\u2019s sticky seeds.<\/p>\n Buffel grass had been documented one kilometre away on the side of a highway, but this marks the first time it’s been seen in Arno Bay.<\/p>\n If it were to spread further across the town, entire nature strips, lawns and gardens could be destroyed.<\/p>\n For those who remember the 1984 comedy Gremlins<\/a>, there was a string of rules that needed to be followed to stop the tiny monsters from multiplying and destroying the town \u2014 including don’t get them wet or feed them after midnight.<\/p>\n When it comes to buffel grass in South Australia, there’s an equally important list to stop its spread.<\/p>\n Check your property after heavy rain.<\/p>\n Do not move plants or soil from the site.<\/p>\n Report all sightings of buffel grass.<\/p>\n The Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board’s biggest concern right now is that someone could inadvertently mow a patch of buffel grass.<\/p>\n And it has been working with residents, local businesses, and council, warning them to check their property for the weed because lawnmowers can further spread its seeds.<\/p>\n \u201cIf somebody unsuspected mowed it, that would be the worst fear,\u201d Anderson said.<\/p>\n Anyone in the state who spots buffel grass should contact their local landscape board for help.<\/p>\n Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can also follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/eb80a9d0-2272-11f1-b3df-02a0c69075b4.jpeg\"\/)
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