Prevent feral deer establishing in the Northern Rivers

Council is urging the community to report all sightings of feral deer in the Tweed this mating season to prevent feral deer establishing in the Northern Rivers. 

13 official reports of feral deer in the Northern Rivers were recorded between January and December 2022 with 6 of those in the Tweed Shire. 

The mating season or rut has begun for deer which lasts from March to September and is when they are most active.  Council is urging residents, landholders, bushwalkers and motorists to report all feral deer sightings on FeralScan to help stop populations growing in the Northern Rivers.

Council’s project officer - wildlife protection (feral deer management) Rachel Hughes said along with the official reported figures, there have been numerous anecdotal sightings and reports of activity.

“We need the community’s help by reporting all deer activity so we can get a better picture of movement across the landscape. This will allow us to better manage any incursion before they get an opportunity to establish,” Ms Hughes said. 

“Feral deer now inhabit 22 per cent of the State, where their distribution has spread by 35 per cent since 2016. In favourable conditions, populations of feral deer can increase by between 34 and 50 per cent each year. This is a pest species we need to pay attention to. 

“The destruction to the environment, economic impact to primary producers and danger to the public is very real, especially regarding collisions on our roads. We have seen the negative impacts in places like Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour where authorities are now finding it hard to control the problem.”

There has been a huge increase in the number of feral deer across Australia over the last 20 years which has prompted a new draft National Feral Deer Action Plan. 

“This plan is a potential gamechanger in stopping one of the most concerning pest species in Australia establishing in the Tweed Shire,” Ms Hughes said.

Report all sightings online at FeralScan or for more information go to Council’s website.

Image: A feral deer captured on monitoring cameras at Cudgen in 2021.