Deer in the Dandendongs

At Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group we care for our local bushland and work to protect our natural environment from threats from pest plant and animal species.

While deer are majestic and beautiful creatures, they cause severe damage to our natural ecosystems. This impact is not only through browsing on shrubs and herbs, but antler rubbing (often through ring barking) is killing sensitive native rainforest species such as southern sassafras (Atherosperma moschatum) and muttonwood (Rapanea howittiana), that haven’t evolved in this environment to withstand such pressures (Lindsay 2020). Trampling and creating wallows can also kill ground cover vegetation and impact the habitat of threatened species in our area such as the endemic Dandenong Burrowing Crayfish (Engaeus urostrictus).

In a Park Watch article last year, Megan Lindsay (2020) highlighted that populations of Sambar and Fallow deer have exploded in the last 20 years across the Dandenong Ranges National Park. Additionally, feral deer cause significant damage to infrastructure, residential gardens, and our food resources – such as orchards, crops and pasture, and promote the movement of invasive weeds (DELWP 2020). They are a significant risk in the hills to motorists, contributing to human/wildlife conflicts.

Reporting sightings is important because it provides a current record of the movement of deer species populations. This data contributes to a larger dataset and can be used to develop strategies for effective deer control. Deer Scan is an easy to use and free resource where anyone can record a sighting. This information can be used by landholders, community groups, government, and other stakeholders to support pest management that is cost-effective and strategic, based on up-to-date information (Invasive Animals Ltd 2009-2021).

Deer Scan can be downloaded to your phone as an app or simply record a sighting through the website https://www.feralscan.org.au/deerscan/

For more information on deer in Australia and how they are managed differently across the country watch this ABC ‘Meet the Ferals’ program.

References

Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning 2020, ‘Victorian Deer Control Strategy’, Victoria State Government, viewed 7 November 2021, https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0031/528817/FINALVicDeerControlStrategy-June-2021.pdf

Invasive Animals Ltd 2009-2021, ‘What Deer Scan Provides’, viewed 8 November 2021, https://www.feralscan.org.au/deerscan/pagecontent.aspx?page=deer_whatdeerscanprovides

Lindsay M 2020, ‘Deer destroying the Dandenongs’, Park Watch December 2020, no. 283, viewed 15 October 2021, https://search.informit.org/doi/epdf/10.3316/informit.736766334681277

Photo source: Ian Rainbow. Deer sighted in Upwey South Reserve