An invasive species of turtle known to be aggressive and to carry diseases that threaten Australia's native turtles has been found in a backyard in Bundaberg in southern Queensland.
The red-eared slider turtle, which is native to the USA, is a freshwater turtle about 30 centimetres in size, with a distinctive red strip behind each ear.
One of the turtles was found last month in an Avoca garden, prompting Biosecurity Queensland to launch an investigation.
Biosecurity Queensland said the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the red-eared slider turtle as one of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species.
The Bundaberg Regional Council is subsequently undertaking a wide-scale surveillance operation in the region.
Bundaberg Regional Councillor Wayne Honor said the turtle was listed as a restricted invasive animal under the Biosecurity Act.
"Fortunately, the resident who found the turtle, which had made its way into their backyard, reported it immediately to Council and the Department of Fisheries and Agriculture," Councillor Honor said.
Land Protection Officers were called to the home to collect the turtle, which the Bundaberg Regional Council said had the ability to have a disastrous effect on native turtle populations.
The turtle has since been euthanased.
Biosecurity Queensland is undertaking a DNA analysis to determine if the turtle was related to a known population in Burpengary, north of Brisbane.
Bundaberg Regional Council natural resource management officer Greg O'Neill said surveillance of Bundaberg's waterways was underway.
"We have also doorknocked in the area of the sighting in an attempt to find out where the turtle may have come from," he said.
"Residents were provided with information alerting them to the recent detection and asking them to report all sightings of turtles on their properties."
The last confirmed sighting of a red-eared slider turtle in Bundaberg was in 2005 in Baldwin Swamp.
Platforms that simulate logs and rocks that turtles like to bask on have been placed in Baldwin Swamp with motion sensor cameras that capture photos of the turtles.
Mr O'Neill said residents who discover a suspected alien turtle species should take reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risk of these turtles escaping.
