There are calls today for the Victorian government to remove protections covering feral deer amid concerns their ballooning numbers could become the “next rabbit plague”.
A coalition of landholders and community groups want state laws protecting them overhauled to safeguard valuable agricultural land and the local environment.
They are seeking feral deer, an introduced species, to be classified as pests, alongside foxes, rabbits and pigs. This would bring Victoria in line with other mainland states.
Supporters of the cull say deer hooves and antlers wreck orchards, farms and vineyards and recreational hunting by shooters is failing to control numbers.
Jordan Crook, of the Victorian National Parks Association, says the animals, which have an estimated population of 250,000 to 1 million across the state, remain protected due to a “legislative relic”.
“It’s time to list feral deer as a pest, invest in effective and science-based control, and where possible, eradicate feral deer populations, where possible,” he said.
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Supporters of the cull say the animals – which can grow up to 200kg in size, spread disease to waterways and livestock, damage property and national parks as well as cause vehicle accidents.
Andrew Cox, chief executive of the Invasive Species Council , has warned that land managers are concerned feral deer will become “Australia’s next rabbit plague”.
“Decades of delays in a serious, coordinated effort to stem the tide of feral deer have allowed their numbers to explode,” he said.
Cox says “everybody will lose” if the protections remain, but by removing them damage to land and the pressure on vulnerable species will be reduced.
A report last year by The Centre For Invasive Species Solutions said in 2021 feral deer had a $91.3 million impact on agriculture and the wider population.
Australia’s first national feral deer action plan is expected to be launched in the near future.
