Feral deer workshops to be held at The Risk, Fernside
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Kyogle Council has joined forces with Tweed and Lismore councils and the Tweed and Border Ranges-Richmond Valley Landcare groups to launch ‘The Northern Rivers is on Feral Deer Alert’ program.
This community awareness campaign aims to prevent feral deer numbers growing out of control in the region, before it’s too late.
The campaign asks the whole Northern Rivers community to stay on Feral Deer Alert, while they are driving, bush walking or managing their property, and to report feral deer sightings.
Tweed Shire Council’s Feral Deer Management Officer, Rachel Hughes, said feral deer were becoming one of Australia’s worst pest animals, with their populations booming in many parts of Australia.
“There are six species of introduced feral deer in Australia, and they are all causing significant and widespread problems,” Ms Hughes said.
“When you first see a deer in the landscape, it can be a novelty at first, but feral deer breed quickly and become very difficult to manage as their populations grow.
“In regions not far from the Northern Rivers, feral deer are causing collisions on roads, reducing the ability of farmers to earn a living and causing native ecosystems to collapse.
“We have an opportunity to prevent this happening in the Northern Rivers, but we need to act now.”
A series of community workshops will be held this month to teach people how to identify and record feral deer and how to control them on their property.
The workshops will be held at:
Tyalgum Community Hall – Friday 16 July at 9 am Murwillumbah Civic and Cultural Centre – Sunday 18 July at 9 am The Risk Hall, The Risk – Saturday 24 July – 9 am Scarrabelotti Shed, Fernside – Sunday 25 July – 9 amTo register online for a workshop go to Feral Deer Community Workshops on Eventbrite.com.au
“The Northern Rivers is one of the last areas in New South Wales where feral deer populations haven’t become established, but they are starting to be seen more frequently,” Ms Hughes said.
“We’re asking our communities to help us prevent feral deer getting out of control by understanding the impacts of feral deer, learning how to identify feral deer species, and reporting all sightings of feral deer as soon as possible using Feral Scan.”
The Feral Deer Alert campaign has been funded by the Australian Government’s Communities Combating Pest and Weed Impacts During Drought program
Report all sightings of feral deer to: www.feralscan.org.au/deerscan or phone Local Land Services on 1300 795 299. For more information go to: www.feraldeeralert.com.au.