DPIRD's Biosecurity Blitz is back in 2025

From 16 October to 16 November 2025, Western Australians are invited to become citizen scientists during Biosecurity Blitz 2025, an annual community campaign run by the Department of Primary Industries and Resource Development to spot unusual pests and protect our farms, environment and trade.

Now in its 10th year, the Blitz encourages people across WA, whether gardeners, landholders, students, or curious locals, to observe, learn, and report organisms in their backyards, bushland, paddocks or waterways. Participants can upload photos, geo-locations and descriptions of plants, animals, insects, aquatic pests or diseases through the MyPestGuide® Reporter app.

Even “nothing to see” reports are valuable: confirming the absence of pests helps biosecurity experts get a clearer picture of where risks are (and aren’t).

Why we love the Biosecurity Blitz

As the Recognised Biosecurity Group (RBG) for the Peel–Harvey region, Peel Harvey Biosecurity Group (PHBG) supports landholders in pest monitoring, control planning and on-ground action. DPIRD's Biosecurity Blitz offers an opportunity for locals a fun way to get familiar with using the MyPestGuide Reporter app, a vital tool in reporting invasive threats to the government.

Reports via the app help DPIRD to:

detect new incursions or outbreaks early
map pest hotspots across landscapes
prioritise areas for control or investigation

Plus, of course, the campaign engages members of the community to the world of biosecurity and increases awareness of what's around us and what belongs here.

How to participate

Check the Biosecurity Blitz webpage for downloadable activities and resources you can do this month.
Download the MyPestGuide Reporter app or access it via your web browser.
Make your observations — if you see anything unusual (insect, plant, fungus, animal), take a clear photo, note location and submit through the app.
Even if you don’t see anything, submit “no-pest found” reports to strengthen absence data.
Spread the word to neighbours, friends, catchment groups — the more eyes out there, the stronger our monitoring network.

Comments

Community Survey provides clear direction for future pest management programs

More people than ever before have had their say on pest management in the Peel-Harvey region, with a 28% increase in participants on our previous survey in 2024. Rabbits remain the region's biggest concern Survey results confirm that rabbits remain the number one pest concern across every local government area, with foxes consistently ranking second. While these priorities were shared across the region, local differences also emerged. For example, feral pigs were identified as a much greater issue in Harvey than elsewhere, while cotton bush, Cape tulip and arum lily featured prominently in Ser pentine Jarrahdale and Murray. Continued demand for practical support The survey also provided valuable feedback on the support landholders would like to see from PHBG. Many respondents asked for more practical workshops, equipment demonstrations and on-ground advice, particularly around rabbit control and weed management. Rabbit management was by far the most requested workshop topic, follow...

H151 Bird influenza confirmed in WA

In June 2026, H5 (H151) bird flu was confirmed near Esperance on our south coast. Internationally this disease has caused deaths in more than 560 species of birds and 100 species of mammals. DPIRD is working with the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to manage the state's response. The most up-to-date information will be available from the DPIRD alerts page .

Bridging research and practice: a recap of the Weed Manager’s Networking Day

Earlier in June, PHBG was delighted to host an informative and engaging Weed Manager’s Networking Day, with presentations by industry experts and scientists working in both private and public sectors. This event was specifically designed for land managers, who had only positive feedback for us after the event. Attendees said they found the speakers knowledgeable and their presentations both useful and educational. They particularly valued the opportunity to learn from these experts as well as other attendees about current programs and research. We also received several great ideas for future events - do you have any? Drop us a line and we'll add your idea to the list. Below are short summaries of the presentations. We encourage you to follow the links if you’d like to know more about the presenters or their work. Integrated weed management (IPM): What does this mean in revegetation or natural area management? Brett Kuhlmann, Vivacious Surrounds Integrated ...

News & Updates

Search This Blog