The Victorian National Parks Association says they’re seeing an ‘explosion’ of feral deer numbers around the Ballarat region, as it calls for them to be listed as a pest.
Over 100 people, including academics, landowners and conservationists are calling on Victorian Government ministers to ‘unprotect’ deer, as part of a current Wildlife Act review.
Parks and Nature Campaigner for the Association, Jordan Crook, says it isn’t just an environmental issue, it’s also a human safety issue.
“These are large animals, much larger than many of our natives, and people’s cars are getting ridden off by these feral deer that are encroaching further and further into suburban areas,” he said.
“The environmental impact and the agricultural impact are [also] there to see and farmers and conservationists are trying to deal with it every day.”
