A small herd of deer has been spotted grazing in Namadgi National Park near Canberra, sparking fears they may cause significant environmental damage.
The herd of about 12 was filmed in the Murrumbidgee River Corridor last year by a remote camera and conservationists are eager that they don’t spread.
“In North America they cause all sorts of problems, not only on the environment but in car collisions as they are much more dangerous than kangaroos,” Director of ACT Parks and Conservation, Daniel Iglesias, told the ABC. “It’s because most of their weight is much higher, when they go through a windscreen.”
Feral deer are known to trample or eat native vegetation, spread weeds and cause soil erosion in sensitive environments.
Mr Iglesias told the ABC that park managers were considering the best way to remove the deer.
The Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia said the ACT Government should consider allowing hunting in national parks to control the feral deer.
I agree entirely with culling these feral pests. I personally saw one crossing the Tidbinbilla road way back, maybe 5 years ago but had no way of filming it or reporting it – but I was told by a local that deer were known to be in the area.
Northern Australia well knows the problems from Asian water buffalo up in the Top End – and those ferals have been all but exterminated … now is the time to get rid of these feral European deer as well