August 11, 2009—Sarah Palin isn't the only one who supports hunting from a helicopter. The Australian government is using choppers with heat sensors to scour the land for invasive fire ants.

© 2009 National Geographic (AP)

Unedited Transcript

New remote sensing equipment on board helicopters is being used in Australia to eradicate the South American red fire ant.

For eight years authorities in Queensland, Australia have been desperately trying to eradicate the invasive species.

Not only do they swarm and sting humans when threatened, but they also destroy crops, and sting and kill the young of native lizards, birds and small mammals.

Early on, tens of thousands of colonies were destroyedby 2007, fewer than 200.

Now, it is much harder to find the ants.

SOUNDBITE (English) Ron Glanville, Bio Security Queensland: "It is finding the last infestation that is the most difficult part. And the technology that we're showing you today is the sort of technology that will give us the edge."

Helicopters fitted with new thermal imaging cameras will scour areas in South-East Queensland, where there's concern about new infestations.

The cameras detect the nests because, in the winter, they're up to 68 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the surrounding ground.

The ants seem to know what they're in for.

Fire Ant Control Centre General Manager Neil O'Brien was bitten while showing a nest.

SOUNDBITE (English) Neil O'Brien, General Mgr., Fire Ant Control Centre: "It's like a patch.. A little patch of fire it does then turn itchy, it has been.. It can turn into a pustule, it will also turn into an ulcer."

Authorities are hopeful that Queensland will be free of the pest in a few years.