IT has drawn comparisons with Donald Trump’s coiffure, but the “hairy panic” that has taken over the small Australian city of Wangaratta, in north-east Victoria, is an altogether different kind of beast – a fast-growing, toxic tumbleweed that is blanketing homes and lawns, and blocking doors and windows.

Residents have had to spend several hours a day clearing the weeds, which have at times reached roof height.

A new housing development that sits on the edge of acres of farmland, has been particularly badly hit with hairy panic being blown over from adjacent fields, but the local council said there was nothing it could do to control the spread.

“The council has a very limited capacity to intervene, but we are attempting to work with residents and nearby farmers,” said a spokesman.

“It’s widespread. It can happen in any town, at any time, and it does happen in Wangaratta. It just spreads from farm to farm.” He added that street sweepers would try to clean up the mess today: “We don’t know how effective it’s going to be until we try.”

WHAT EXACTLY IS HAIRY PANIC?

ALSO known by its Latin name Panicum effusum, it is a short-lived perennial that is native to inland Australia. There are hairy panic outbreaks across the country every year, but Wangaratta has been badly hit this year because of exceptionally dry conditions.

The weed is called “hairy” because while there are a number of other species, only one has long hairs along the edges of its leaves. It grows quickly and can form tumbleweeds, which are dead grass with seeds inside which disperse for reproduction.

When moist, the weed can cause a potentially fatal condition called “yellow big head” in sheep if eaten in large quantities. In a leaflet to farmers, health authorities warned: “The poisoning caused liver damage, leading to photosensitivity, in sheep. Signs included runny eyes and swollen faces and ears from the photosensitivity.

“The liver damage also caused jaundice around the eyes and gums. The noses of some affected animals also became blackened and crusty. In extreme cases there were significant production losses and death.”

IS THERE A REAL PANIC?

NOT really. Australians are a resilient bunch and seem to be taking it in their stride, blaming a local farmer for failing to tend to his paddock.

Some residents have posted pictures of their homes on the council’s Facebook page, including Matt Thewlis, whose home was covered in it: “Hope the person who owns the out-of-control paddocks in our area gets notified to do something because this is a joke and the whole estate is sick of it! Ask yourself this would you put up with this every day?”

Pam Twitchett, another resident said: “It’s physically draining and mentally more draining.”

The council have received about 30 complaints about the grass, though the spokesman said that not all were from people affected by it.

He said: “Some people are just ringing to talk to us about it, which is fine.”

Hairy panic would go wherever the wind blows, the spokesman said, adding again that it was not something that the council “can stop from happening”.

Some Wangaratta residents had raised fears about a fire risk to their properties, but the Country Fire Authority has said that the chances of the grass catching fire are “relatively low”.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

IT all depends on what direction the wind blows. Vet Richard Evans said the weed would lose its toxicity once it dried up, and would become harmless.

“The important thing is it’s not going to kill people’s dogs and cats, it just makes a hell of a mess,” he said.

Some residents have come up with ideas on how to capitalise on the grass – such as going into the scarecrow business.

Jason Perna told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC: “Walked out the front door this morning to find a good six-metre spread of tumbleweed across the front of the house – again.

“Two metres high by three metres in diameter that spreads right across the front of the house.

“It makes it difficult to get the car out in the morning, if you can find it.

“We’re on the border of a farm-zoned rural property and a couple of years ago they planted a crop of hay in there. They didn’t plant anything last year and it’s just derived from the grass that’s died.

“It’d be great if the farmer actually farmed the land, or did some slashing or ploughing of it just to keep that tumbleweed from growing or spreading any further.

“We are looking at ways to capitalise on this stuff, whether we go into the production of scarecrows or raise some money and get some goats in to eat this stuff away.”