THE government has launched the country’s first National Feral Deer Action Plan, detailing three key goals underpinned by actions it hopes will curb escalating deer populations.
Feral deer have become the scourge of Scenic Rim graziers and farmers with the rouge animals spotted wandering among cattle and grazing on crops and fodder foliage.
The Queensland Department of Agriculture (DAFF), estimate there are around 10,000 to 15,000 red deer within southeast Queensland
The action plan came about after consultation with state and regional land management departments as well as research, farming, conservation, hunting and pest control sectors, feral deer control programs and communities.
It is explained as having three key goals that are underpinned by 22 action items that aim to curb large, escalating deer populations, control or eradicate small herds and protect significant sites from impacts.
The plan was praised by Commissioner for Threatened Species Dr Fiona Fraser who raised concerns for native species threatened by the impact of feral deer on the ecosystem.
“Feral deer destroy native habitats by creating large wallows, ring barking trees and trampling plants,” she said.
Deer eat whatever is available to them and require a diet twice as high in protein as cattle and with significantly higher quantities of digestible matter.
They pose agricultural risks because they feed selectively on the highest quality plants in a pasture and cause damage to crops.
As an El Nino sets in and the environment becomes drier, competition for food heats up between domestic and feral animals.
The creation of a national feral deer plan brings hope their numbers will soon start to be curbed.
An Implementation Committee will now lead the plan’s execution over the next five years with a three year review scheduled for 2025.
Some projects are already underway and government and non-government stakeholders will continue to work together to resource the actions in the plan.