New plan released to eradicate feral deer from Adelaide’s fringe
Feral deer are an invasive species that trash and trample vegetation for native animals, pollute waterways and pose a serious road safety risk. On Australia’s east coast, the issue has spiralled out of control with damage by feral deer now costing millions of dollars every year. If we don’t act now in South Australia, we’ll face the same devastating consequences.
The continuing spread of feral deer into the peri-urban areas surrounding Adelaide has prompted a detailed, multi-agency eradication plan.
The Greater-Adelaide Peri-Urban Feral Deer Eradication Plan covers an area from Gawler to Mount Barker and down to McLaren Vale. It is an important part of a statewide eradication plan, which aims to eradicate feral deer and their huge cost-burden from South Australia by 2032.
Tom Kloeden, Regional Coordinator, Grazing Pressure Management at Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu explained the impacts feral deer have on the peri-urban environment and why urgent action is needed.
“Grazing by feral deer is a serious environmental issue. They are destroying habitat for endangered species, such as the southern brown bandicoot and threatened woodland birds, making them more vulnerable to predation.
“They trash parks and gardens and are becoming a serious traffic hazard. Many commuters are reporting feral deer on the South-Eastern Freeway and Greenhill Road, and others are seeing feral deer in their yards, urban streets and farms.
“In the Greater Adelaide area, peri-urban feral deer numbers are still relatively low compared with those in the eastern states, but they can reproduce at up to 35% each year. We have a window in which to act now before their numbers increase to a point where it becomes impossible to stop them,” said Mr Kloeden.
Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu has been coordinating the control of feral deer and goats within the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula for several years. The peri-urban feral deer plan will now ramp up efforts to expand into more priority areas.
The plan prioritises engaging landholders to help with feral deer control on their own land and encourages the community to report sightings of feral deer via FeralScan.
“To be successful we will need large numbers of land managers to commit to getting rid of deer now to protect our local environment for the future. Our control operations are based on the highest standards of safety, risk mitigation and animal welfare, tailored to the peri-urban environment and smaller properties,” said Mr Kloeden.
You can read The Greater Adelaide Peri-Urban Feral Deer Eradication Plan and report sightings of feral deer here.
The Greater Adelaide Peri-Urban Feral Deer Eradication Plan was developed collaboratively by a working group from Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu, Green Adelaide, PIRSA, Department for Environment and Water, SA Water, Adelaide Hills Council, and City of Onkaparinga, with the support of The National Feral Deer Action Plan.
