September 20th 2024.
There are growing concerns among the public, urging the Victorian government to take action and remove the protections currently in place for feral deer. The fear is that if their rapidly increasing numbers are not addressed, it could lead to a disastrous "rabbit plague" situation all over again.
A coalition consisting of landowners and community groups are advocating for a reform of state laws to better protect valuable agricultural land and the local environment. They believe that feral deer, an introduced species, should be classified as pests, just like foxes, rabbits, and pigs. This would bring Victoria in line with other mainland states.
The issue at hand has been brought to light as many people have noticed the destructive impact that deer hooves and antlers have on orchards, farms, vineyards, and other areas. Despite attempts by recreational hunters to control their numbers, it has proven to be ineffective. Jordan Crook, a representative of the Victorian National Parks Association, believes that the reason for this is due to outdated legislation that still protects feral deer.
Crook states, "It's time to list feral deer as a pest, invest in effective and science-based control, and, where possible, eradicate their populations entirely." He argues that this is necessary to prevent further damage to the land and to vulnerable species.
Another advocate for the culling of feral deer is Andrew Cox, the chief executive of the Invasive Species Council. He believes that if we do not take action now, feral deer could potentially become the next rabbit plague in Australia. Cox points to years of delay in addressing this issue, which has allowed the deer population to grow out of control.
Cox warns, "Everybody will lose if we continue to protect feral deer. However, by removing their protections, we can reduce the damage to our land and the pressure on vulnerable species." He believes that it is in everyone's best interest to reform the laws and take the necessary steps to control the feral deer population.
A report released last year by The Centre for Invasive Species Solutions revealed that feral deer have already caused a staggering $91.3 million impact on agriculture and the wider population in 2021. This only reinforces the urgency for action to be taken.
In response to these growing concerns, Australia's first national feral deer action plan is expected to be launched in the near future. Hopefully, this will be a major step towards addressing the issue and preventing it from escalating.
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