Home security vision captures herds of feral deer roaming leafy suburban streets in Beaumont. Footage: Supplied by Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu.
Adelaide residents are discovering Bambi is not as cute and innocent as Disney portrayed he to be, with thousands of deer wreaking havoc in the suburbs.
Home security vision is capturing herds of feral deer roaming leafy suburban streets, including at Mitcham, Belair and Beaumont, while single sightings have also been reported at Burnside and on Magill Road.
There are now about 9500 feral deer causing carnage across the Greater Adelaide region, as well as the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula, creating serious hazards for motorists, destroying parks and gardens and contributing to erosion, according to Green Adelaide spokesman Marty Bower.
The deer can be seen walking along the footpath of a Beaumont street. Footage: Supplied by Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu.
“A single deer can destroy large areas of vegetation, damage fences and create a significant hazard on the road,’’ Mr Bower said.
“Feral deer damage gardens, trample native vegetation, strip bark from trees and cause erosion along waterways – all of which impacts habitat that supports native and threatened birds and animals.
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“Deer also pose a road safety risk and spread invasive plants like olives through their droppings and their trampling churns up soil, which can increase weed growth.’’
Green Adelaide considers feral deer one of Australia’s worst emerging pests, ahead of rabbits and feral cats.
A South Australian government report in 2023 found the animals cost the state’s farmers about $36m in direct productivity losses every year.
Another Beaumont resident captured the deer on their home security as well. Footage: Supplied by Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu.
If not controlled, numbers in SA could explode to 208,000 within a decade, the report said.
Mr Bower said early intervention programs currently underway had shown some “early wins’’ in reducing numbers, urging residents to report any deer sightings through the
FeralScan app so that authorities could track animal movement and target control efforts.
“Feral deer can be hard to exclude but keeping fences in good repair helps discourage deer from entering properties,’’ Mr Bower said.
“Feral deer are a declared pest, meaning it’s a landholder’s responsibility to control them on their property.
“If you regularly see feral deer on your property, you may be eligible for assistance with control.
“Landholders can register their interest on the Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu website.’’
Green Adelaide considers feral deer one of Australia’s worst emerging pests. Image: Supplied by Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu.
Without eradication, Mr Bower feared SA’s feral deer population would blow out and cause similar problems to those experienced in other states, including Victoria which is estimated to now have one million feral deer – the highest number of any state or territory.
In that state, deer have been witnessed jumping into Melbourne backyards and even crashing through a suburban home’s front window, with the Victorian government facing pressure to lift protection of feral deer as a game species and reclassify them as a pest.
According to the Invasive Species Council’s website, deer are probably Australia’s worst emerging pest animal problem, causing damage to the natural environment and agricultural businesses.
Populations are expanding and deer are invading new areas, many due to deliberate introductions by recreational hunters, it says.
– by Lauren Ahwan
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