Ofira's Electric Nose Gives Ants No Chance

[Greytmate]

Ofira the sniffer dog is the warm-up act for State Government’s Community Cabinet meeting today at Innisfail in North Queensland.

KATE DENNEHY

February 28, 2010 - 6:15AM

The two-year old Labrador passed her training and now is based at Cairns to detect electric ants that can blind pets and give them and humans sharp stings causing prolonged pain, itchiness and blisters.

At 11am her handler, Danielle Lisle will demonstrate Ofira’s skill for the public and Primary Industries Minister, Tim Mulherin using rags scented with the ants and hidden outside Innisfail State College. The Cabinet meeting starts there at 1pm.

Ms Lisle, of Cairns started working for Biosecurity Queensland as she completed a Bachelor of Science degree at James Cook University majoring in zoology and environmental science, with honours in entomology.

She takes the dog through a grid pattern of about 30 square metres in search of the 1.5mm long South American ant. If the dog finds any she scratches at the ground and is rewarded with play. A field team then baits the area to kill the ants.

"Ofira is a beautiful dog and working with her will be the best job in the world," she said.

The meeting will also include information on other invasive pests such Asian honey bees and Miconia weed, an aggressive invader of rainforest areas and creek banks in the region.

Tomorrow, Parliamentary Secretaries and Directors-General will be available for formal deputations from 9am to 11am at the Mareeba Police-Citizens Youth Club.

The Premier Anna Bligh said a record number of 275 formal deputations had been listed.

Source: The Sun-Herald

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[GeckoTree]

Eeek I hope the dog dosnt hoover one up the nose!

[spottychick]

Yeah it does seem a bit risky!!!

[Greytmate]

Ants have an extremely strong smell. I am sure the dog would realise before it came too close.