Bad neighbours: Feral deer crash through the urban fringe

With feral deer numbers ramping up across Australia to between one and two million in recent decades, urban communities from Queensland to Victoria are increasingly feeling the impacts.

As they spill into backyards, streets and highways, deer are putting increasing pressure on road users, rail corridors and ecosystems. Management options are typically expensive, require intensive management and local awareness campaigns to build social license. These peri-urban deer terrified a child in a Wollongong park.

 

Feral deer are also encroaching the outskirts of Hobart, Adelaide and south of Perth. With $3.3 million seen annually in traffic accident costs, feral deer need to be stopped in their tracks before establishing in more towns and cities.

Seen a deer? Report a deer: FeralScan.