17-02-2025
'Explosive' invasive plant warning to Aussies after dog poisoned in backyard
Aussies have been warned over the threat of an invasive species spreading all around the country after a family's beloved pooch was poisoned in their backyard.
Perth resident Michael and his partner are demanding his local council take responsibility after seeds from castor bean plants invading nearby council land blew into their garden without her knowledge. His pet dog Poppet, who ingested the seeds, developed ricin poisoning, leaving the family with a $5,000 vet bill to save their dog.
Now, the family fears they can no longer enjoy their backyard due to the ever-present threat posed by the toxic plant. "Any time I leave my dogs I feel a pang of anxiety," he told Yahoo News.
Michael told Yahoo he noticed that both of her pet dogs were acting unwell in November, with Poppet having "lost all of her personality". After monitoring her condition and realising she wasn't getting any better, Michael took her to the vet where it was suspected she had ingested some sort of harmful substance, but they did not know what.
A few days later, with Poppet still struggling, the family found the mysterious seeds in their backyard. Asking locals in an online forum to identify the plants, they discovered how dangerous the castor oil plant was. The family put two and two together and it was soon confirmed that Poppet was suffering from ricin poisoning after ingesting the seeds.
Native to northeast Africa, the castor oil plant, also known as Ricinus Communis, has been recorded in Australia since 1803 and is now found all across the country. The invasive species is poisonous to both people and animals and outcompetes with native plants as well as reducing habitat and food for native animals.
The plant contains a toxin called ricin which is capable of causing serious illness and even death. The flowers, leaves and seeds are poisonous.
Eating them can cause a burning sensation in the throat and mouth, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea as well as bleeding from the eyes, and respiratory and cardiac distress. Just touching the leaves and seeds can cause dermatitis in those with sensitive skin.
The plant species spreads via an "explosive release of seeds", which is how the seeds found their way nearly 10 metres over Michael's fenceline, which backs onto a council-managed reserve, where the plants were growing. "It definitely should be on people's radar since it's growing all around the place," she said.
Because the seeds have been continuously blowing into their backyard, they are now taking root in the family's lawn. "It's awful," Michael told Yahoo.
"Every morning we have to pull out sprouts and be hyper-vigilant in our own home. We are ratepayers, we should be able to enjoy our property without this. It's all preventable."
While the family lets their dogs into the backyard, they fear history will repeat itself. "Every time we go outside we wonder if it's safe," he said. "It shouldn't be that way. It shouldn't be a risky thing for a dog to play in the backyard."
The family, who are in contact with council over the incident, are petitioning the local authority to pay the vet bill and "do something" about the invasive species.
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City of Swan Mayor Tanya Richardson told Yahoo that council is "committed" to managing the invasive weeds in the area and has begun spraying the area this week.
'This species spreads very easily via explosive release seeds that can travel a significant distance from the parent plant," she said. 'They are further spread by moving water, animal activity, road works and traffic – all unknowingly transporting seeds that thrive on vacant land.
'Following the initial customer request, the City conducted preliminary works to remove the plants along a buffer area in late November 2024. Simultaneously, the City also engaged a specialist contractor to spray and remove plants in the more inaccessible area, with these works completed on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
'Further follow-up spraying started this week to address any areas of regrowth.'
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