Top dog sniffs out elusive ant

By Sue Clohesy

MAN has a new friend to fight fire ants in Queensland Aker, the golden labrador.

For the past year, the three-year-old bundle of energy has focused on finding fire ants across south-east Queensland.

Along with Biosecurity Queensland Control Centre's senior dog handler Chris Flegler, Aker has been awarded a 100 per cent success rate in sniffing out fire ants.

"He is trained to detect pheromones that fire ants give out," Mr Flegler said.

"Then he is trained to drop at the exact origin of his find.

"He finds fire ants that aren't visible to the naked eye."

The dynamic duo has worked together since Mr Flegler bought Aker from a family in Bellbowrie in 2006.

"He was just a family pet then he was a bit of a live wire," he said.

"Now he's the world's first fire ant detection dog."

Now living in Ipswich, Mr Flegler said while he might be Aker's best friend, the feeling wasn't necessarily mutual.

"He lives with me and interacts with the family, but he's a working dog," Mr Flegler said.

"He's not allowed to get away with what a normal pet would.

"I have to avoid becoming attached to him because if he didn't work out we would have to move him on."

But the obvious bond between them is fast becoming the most successful way to find and eradicate fire ants.

So successful that dogs Mikey and Elroy are in training to help Aker in his duties.

"Potentially these dogs will cover all of Queensland," Mr Flegler said.