Community members interested in finding out more about the Limestone Coast Landscape Board’s (LC Landscape Board) Feral Deer Eradication Program are invited to attend a community update.

Limestone Coast Landscape Board General Manager Steve Bourne said the updates will be held in Penola on June 13 or Kingston on June 15.

“The LC Landscape Board has been scaling up efforts around the Feral Deer Eradication Program with it now extending south into areas around Penola,” he said.

“We feel now is an important time to update the community in these areas on the program, how it is delivering positive outcomes for primary producers, community and the environment and most importantly how they can participate.”

The community updates will present results from the recent autumn operation undertaken by the LC Landscape Board where over 2012 feral deer were removed from the Limestone Coast.

Limestone Coast Landscape Board Feral Deer Project Officer Bart Peters said more than 135 private properties, forestry reserves and conservation parks were accessed during the autumn operation, which covered over 477,942 hectares using aerial and ground shooting and Conservation Wildlife Management SA volunteers.

“An increase of 40% more landholders signed up to participate in the 2023 autumn operation compared to 2022 demonstrates the community’s commitment to protect the region’s primary production, native habitats and public safety from the impacts of feral deer,” he said.

“The increase in landholders participating in the program, which is funded though landscape levies, state and commonwealth funds, allows us to efficiently cover more areas for greater results.”

The Feral Deer Eradication Program integrates aerial and ground shooting operations with thermal and visual aerial monitoring, compliance and enforcement to assist landholders in meeting their responsibilities under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019 to eradicate feral deer from their properties.

The program is free for landholders to participate in.

Individuals can visit www.engage.lclandscapesa.com.au/feral-deer-eradication-program to register their attendance in attending the Feral Deer Eradication Program community updates.