Unpublished national vertebrate pest report assesses five-year feral deer control failure
1Oct 29 · 9d ago · 3 articles · 2 sources · development 1 of 2
The National Vertebrate Pest Coordinators' report card covering 2020–2025 shows Australia failing to control feral deer spread. Feral deer populations have increased in numbers and territory, costing more than $91m annually in production loss and management time. Six species—chital, fallow, hog, red, rusa, and sambar—are established across the country, with highest densities in south-eastern Australia. The report uses a traffic light system: South Australia alone received green marks in all four assessed categories. New South Wales and Tasmania received reds across all categories; Queensland and the ACT received three reds and one yellow. The report was leaked to the Invasive Species Council.
theguardian.com
“This report shows that governments are failing miserably to invest enough to control deer populations and the severe impacts that they can have on agriculture, native wildlife and the environment, road safety and culturally significant sites.”
Prof Euan Ritchie, Deakin University and president of the Australian Mammal Society