Beyond the odd buck wandering through the Cowra POW Camp, it may be easier for residents in the heart of Cowra to miss a concerning rise of pests in the farms and forests of the region.
Numbers of feral deer are climbing across the state, according to new data published by Local Land Services.
Alistair Gordon Smith, Senior Biosecurity Officer, Central Tablelands Local Land Services, said deer are regarded as a priority pest sepcies across the region.
“There are known feral deer populations in the Cowra region. While not widespread, we encourage landholders to undertake control efforts before numbers expand in range and density. Without intervention, feral deer populations can rise by 34 to 50 per cent in a single year. A modest herd of 30 deer can balloon to 500 in a decade,” he said.
“Feral deer around urban areas pose a risk of vehicle accidents and also represent a public nuisance where they affect urban amenity, including damaging gardens. IIn the event of an exotic disease incursion, feral deer populations could act as reservoirs for exotic animal diseases such as foot and mouth disease.”
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The path of destruction deer can wrought on properties is well documents across New South Wales, with the hoofed pest trampling threatened plant species, ringbarking trees through antler rubbing, and competing with livestock through grazing and through damaging fences.
“Deer were first introduced for hunting and captive livestock purposes during the 19th century. Feral populations of deer have now established in all Australian states and territories after escaping and deliberate release from captivity,” Mr Gordon Smith said.
But managing feral animals on private and public land requires strict licensing and regulation, and can risk heavy penalties for poaching. A spokesperson from the NSW Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development said it simply wasn’t worth the risk of being caught, with trap cameras on both public land and private properties.
“R-Licensed hunters must comply with a range of conditions at all times while hunting, including licence conditions, general written permission and forest specific conditions, and the NSW Game Hunting Licence Code of Practice. The code of practice contains important provisions relating to animal welfare and firearms safety,” they said.
“Deer may be targeted as well as feral pigs, goats, foxes, hares, rabbits, feral cats and wild dogs. There are no restrictions on how or when deer may be hunted using firearms or bows during the day-time, however it is not legal to hunt them at night in State forests.”
The spokesperson told the Cowra Guardian that across the state, private hunters have removed over 3,300 feral deer from NSW State forests this year.
Mr Gordon Smith encouraged landholders and town residents to be aware of biosecurity threats and responsibilities, to help minimise the risk of deer incursions and public safety.
“Local Land Services supports landholders to manage pest animals on their properties, including feral deer, by providing best practice management advice and coordinating wide scale pest control programs. Deer management techniques include aerial and ground shooting, trapping and exclusion fencing,” he said.
