Feral deer are a pest. So list them as one.

423 emails of 200 Goal

Ask ministers to list deer as a pest

Dear Minister for the Environment Steve Dimopoulos and Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence,

Re: Time to list deer as a pest animal

I welcome the East, West and Peri-urban Victoria Deer Control Plans and your commitment for ongoing funding of the plans. This is a great first step in reducing the ongoing harm feral deer do to our states conservation and farmlands as well as human safety.

I’m concerned that the Victorian Deer Control Strategy and Plans failed to commit to listing deer as a pest animal, despite the strategy’s clear statement that "a wide range of environmental, economic, and social impacts have been attributed to wild deer".

The strategy and control plans affirm that feral deer impacts include; increased pressure on threatened plants, animals and communities, the destruction of native vegetation, competition with native wildlife for food sources, degradation of waterways and the spread of weeds and animal diseases.

Deer also affect orchards vineyards and farms, damage Aboriginal cultural heritage sites, and threatens public safety on our roads.

The strategy points out that community feedback overwhelmingly supported listing all deer as a pest species, yet the strategy only committed to "review the status of some deer species".

In June 2020 a Federal Senate inquiry has recommended that all Australian states and territories change their laws to ensure that deer are "treated as an environmental pest". In addition, the senate inquiry found that the states should "maximise the ability of park managers to control feral deer in World heritage areas and National Parks", and "maximise the ability of landholders to manage deer on their land".

With over a million deer now rampaging around the state, laws protecting them so recreational hunters can hunt them are now long past their ‘use by’ date.
 
Fortunately, Victoria’s Wildlife Act, the law that protects deer, is currently being revised. It’s time to remove any protection offered by that Act and clearly list deer as a pest species. Deer are without a doubt a pest – they are invading our forests, farms, national parks, towns and even cities.
 
We also need to ramp up effective implementation of widespread feral deer control to restore the integrity of our finest natural areas, protect Indigenous culture, support agriculture, and keep our roads safe.
 
I urge you to act emphatically so that feral deer are managed in a way that matches the threats they pose to Victoria’s natural areas, and to Victorians.

Feral deer destroy shrubs, ringbark trees, trample rainforests, wallow in wetlands, wreck orchards and vineyards, and they’re a hazard on our roads.

The state government’s recent East, West and Peri-urban Victoria Deer Control Plans and commitment of start up and ongoing funding is a great move.

Reducing the spread of feral deer and eradicating new and emerging populations where possible is essential. Now we need to see work done to remove protections for feral deer under the state’s Wildlife Act.

Ask your ministers to protect wildlife, national parks, local businesses and communities by urgently listing feral deer as a pest animal.

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