Feral deer in the Hills and Fleurieu
Feral deer are an invasive species that trash and trample vegetation for native animals, pollute waterways and pose a serious road safety risk.
In many parts of Australia, the issue has spiraled out of control with damage by feral deer now costing our intestate friends millions of dollars every year.
Feral deer have no natural predators in the Hills and Fleurieu. This, combined with their fast reproductive rate, means they are very high in number, and need to be controlled.
Feral deer impact our communities in many ways.
Environmental
Feral deer negatively impact the environment through the grazing, browsing, trampling, and ringbarking of vegetation, thereby reducing habitat and biodiversity. They also damage watercourses, compete with wildlife for resources and pose direct and indirect risks to threatened flora and fauna. They quickly spread into recently burnt bushland and browse regrowth, hampering recovery of habitat.
Agricultural
Feral deer impact primary production through damage to pastures, crops, vineyards, orchards and forestry plantations. They also compete with livestock for pasture, damage farm infrastructure and pose a biosecurity risk. In 2022, feral deer cost the South Australian economy $36 million in agricultural productivity losses. State-wide productivity losses were projected to increase to over $241 million by 2032 without the eradication program (Feral Deer Control Economic Analysis, BDO EconSearch 2023).
Ecological
The Mount Lofty Ranges is one of 15 biodiversity hotspots in Australia, and is home to many threatened species. Feral deer grazing is contributing to the destruction of habitat for threatened species such as the southern brown bandicoot, making them more vulnerable to predation by foxes and cats.
Public Safety
Feral deer are an increasing traffic hazard on peri- urban roads. There have been several incidents where aggressive feral deer have attacked people and caused injuries, while illegal hunting activities that target feral deer threaten public safety.
Damage to property and gardens
Feral deer can cause significant damage to private and public gardens, and in some cases damage to houses, ovals, playgrounds and other infrastructure.