Deer – Friend or Foe? By Greg Siepen, Kenmore, Qld.
Get up to date with the current situation with deer in Australia, and the realistic options to deal with them. Recently, I visited two adjoining semi-rural properties on the outskirts of Brisbane. Both owners commented on seeing deer earlier in the morning crossing their properties, but they had opposing views about these creatures. One owner said she loved how the
deer emerged from her mist-filled gully, majestically looked at her then walked off unhurriedly into the forest. The other owner detested deer because they had damaged her trees and she felt they were exotic animals suited to another continent. Both views are right of course.
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So how do we resolve these views and manage deer populations across our nation? Introduced species
Deer were introduced into Australia in the 1800s by acclimatisation societies to provide animals that the newly arrived immigrants could relate to and remind them of their homeland. For many years after their release in the 19th century feral deer gradually built up numbers, but were kept at reasonably low levels by predators, such as wild dogs, foxes and feral cats. Due to concentrated efforts to reduce these type of predators feral deer herds and their ranges have gradually expanded. Consequently, they have reached a tipping point where they are now significantly affecting primary production and the environment. The following page is a summary of the status of feral deer in each state/territory and how you can prevent and manage deer impacts on your properties. In summary, each state has a management and/or control plan and strategy with the federal government in the process of designing a national plan. Additionally, in all states and territories, all deer are protected in national parks, as is every other animal. The Parks Service will organise any culling if necessary and penalties apply for any illegal culling or removal by the public. In terms of feral deer control, all state and territory governments encourage the formation of landholder groups to control feral deer. However, deer are regarded as a hunting resource in Victoria and
