You might not have heard of buffel grass, a robust and invasive grass that has spread across tens of thousands of square kilometres of inland Australia. But you might know its effects.

Most people remember the deadly 2023 fires in Maui, Hawaii, which killed more than 100 people. Many will know of the worsening bushfires in Australia’s centre. In both cases, buffel grass, (including Cenchrus ciliaris), played a role by adding fuel in dry environments.

Right now, the federal government is weighing up whether to declare buffel grass one of the worst weeds in the country – a “Weed of National Significance”.

Our new study shows buffel grass does real damage to native animals, and we can now predict the types of animals most at risk. Building on previous work, we show buffel grass affects at least three major groups – birds, reptiles and ants – in multiple habitats and regions.

What is buffel grass?

Buffel is a tussock grass, bulkier than most Australian native grasses. Native to Africa, the Middle East and Asia, buffel grass first arrived in Australia via imported camel saddles in the 1870s. It was later planted for dryland pasture as its deep roots allow it to thrive in dry........

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