Giant tumbleweed 'hairy panic' engulfs homes in small Australian town

Homes in a small Australian town have been engulfed in a fast-growing type of tumbleweed dubbed “hairy panic”.

Bizarre images show piles of the yellowy-brown weeds appearing outside houses in Wangaratta, north-east Victoria, after strong winds blew it into the town.

The weeds are caused by extremely dry conditions and grow rapidly.

It can also cause a potentially fatal condition in sheep called yellow big head if eaten in large quantities

Residents have been forced to spend hours clearing paths from their doorways as the weeds, which are caused by extremely dry conditions, reach more than a metre high – sometimes stretching to roof height.

But homeowners said their clearing efforts were in vain, as tumbleweed continues to pile up outside their homes as the wind blows.

Cheryl Lengrand said she spent a day clearing up her front garden and the following morning, was confronted with the same scene.

She told Channel 7 news: “I spent eight hours yesterday cleaning up the tumbleweed and this is what I’ve got today.”

Resident Jason Perna said: “It is frustrating. You know that you’ve got a good couple of hours work ahead of you and that’s always sort of displeasing.”

Wangaratta veterinary surgeon Richard Evans told the BBC that while the weeds are a nuisance and can be toxic to sheep, they are not going to kill dogs and cats.

Andrew Chuck, Wangaratta Council spokesman, said the authority was investigating whether the grass came from farmland.

He added: “When it comes to farmland, it’s a difficult one; to be quiet honest – possibly these farmers can’t control it.”