'Hairy Panic' Tumbleweed Engulfs Homes, Frustrates Residents in Australia Town

— -- Tumbleweed on tumbleweed on tumbleweed.

That's what several residents of Wangaretta, Victoria, Australia, have been complaining about for the past week.

Clouds of fuzzy tumbleweed, known by locals as "hairy panic," are engulfing dozens of yards, gardens and driveways, according to photos residents have posted on social media.

"It is frustrating," resident Pam Twitchett told 7News in Australia. "You know that you've got a good couple of hours work ahead of you, and that's always sort of displeasing."

The tumbleweed, scientifically called Panicum effusum, is a short-lived perennial native to the country.

Though outbreaks occur across the country annually, Wangaratta locals said they believe the current outbreak is a much hairier situation than in the past -- possibly due to recent dry conditions or a due to a nearby paddock that a farmer has failed to maintain.

"It's physically draining and mentally more draining," resident Jason Perna told 7News.

Several residents have complained to Wangaretta's city council, including Matt Thewlis, who posted several photos of the overgrowth to the city's official Facebook page.

The council did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for comment.

A council spokesman told Guardian Australia that the city council has received up to 30 complaints about the grass, though not all the complaints were from residents directly affected by it.

"Some people are just ringing to talk to us about it, which is fine," he told Guardian Australia.

The spokesman further explained that not much could be done "from an enforcement side of things, through local laws," to control the tumbleweed’s spread, though the council was investigating potential controls for next year.

Some city street sweepers would "attempt to clean up the mess" today, the council spokesman added. "We don’t know how effective it’s going to be until we try."