The Limestone Coast is leading the nation in removing feral deer, with more than 4000 feral deer culled across more than 500,000 hectares.
The 10-year South Australian Feral Deer Eradication Program is aiming to eradicate the pest from the state by 2032.
Regarded as one of Australia’s worst pest animals in both rural and peri-urban areas, feral deer cost South Australian primary producers an estimated $36m in direct productivity losses last year.
In addition to primary industry costs, feral deer have significant impacts on the environment and public safety.
There were an estimated 40,000 feral deer in South Australia in 2022, and since the program’s commencement in May 2022 more than 8000 feral deer have been removed.
One fallow deer may eat as much fodder as one-and-a-half sheep.
The removal of 8000 deer from the landscape is therefore the equivalent of removing 12,000 sheep worth of grazing pressure from the state’s pastures and native vegetation.
While the Limestone Coast Landscape Board led the state in deer removal, more than 3400 were removed in the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board region.
The program uses a range of control tools, including ground and aerial shooting.
Increasingly, aerial shoots are assisted by advanced thermal imaging technology so that target animals can be detected more easily in the environment, improving efficiency and humaneness.
The South Australian Feral Deer Eradication Program is a statewide partnership between the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), the Department for Environment and Water (DEW), landscape boards and Livestock SA and is jointly funded by both the State and Australian Governments.
Minister for Primary Industries, Regional Development and Forest Industries Clare Scriven said South Australia’s $17.3b primary industries and agribusiness sector was a vital part of the state’s economy, supporting 71,000 jobs across the state, making the eradication of feral deer “vitally important”.
“Eradicating feral deer will lead to increased profitability of pasture-fed livestock, cropping, horticulture and forestry industries, restoration and sustainability of native habitats, recovery of burnt bushland, road, and public safety, not to mention protection of our biosecurity,” she said.
“The success of South Australia’s approach to date is already leading to interstate interest in how we are tackling the issue of feral deer.
“The eradication of feral deer in our landscape, combined with achieving best practice management of farmed deer, is being achieved by government and landscape board staff working with landholders and industry across the state.”
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said the Federal Government was pleased to partner with the SA Government to tackle pest animals in South Australia.
“Feral deer can be incredibly destructive and cause damage to critical habitat,” he said.
“By adopting best practice pest animal management, as well as improved coordination and information sharing, we can drive down the impacts on agricultural productivity and the environment.”
