Deer and feral animal control in response to bushfire
Overview
Following the 2019-20 bushfires, Parks Victoria and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) are implementing a coordinated deer and feral animal control program in parks and reserves across Eastern Victoria.
The aim of this program is to remove deer and feral animals from priority fire-affected and adjacent areas, giving native plants, plant communities and animals the best chance of survival after fires.
The 2019-20 bushfires had a devastating impact on native species and large areas of habitat in Victoria. Under these conditions, deer and feral animals are a significant threat to survival and recovery as they seriously damage native vegetation and important habitat areas through grazing, browsing, trampling and wallowing.
Coordinated action is required to control deer and feral animals, not just in the burnt areas, but also in the adjacent unburnt areas which provide refuge for native species and harbour for introduced species.
A variety of tools are used to maximise the effectiveness of Victoria’s animal control programs. Many considerations are given (e.g. humaneness, cost, efficiency) to determine which tools, or control methods, are used for particular animals in particular places. Examples of control methods include:
- Baiting foxes
- Trapping cats
- Baiting and trapping for feral pigs
- Exclusion fencing to keep deer away from endangered plants
- Shooting (aerial and ground) for deer and feral pigs
- Spraying and removal of weeds
This work is funded by the Victorian Government’s Bushfire Biodiversity Response and Recovery program.
Visit our Conservation and Science page to learn more about how we reduce threats and improve the health of Victoria’s parks.
Updates
Read an update about the program from December 2020: Giving biodiversity a fighting chance.
Read an update about the program from July 2020: Promising signs of wildlife recovery in eastern Victoria.
Once the program is completed, results will be compiled and shared with the public.
Ground shooting
The ground shooting program is mainly targeting deer and pigs, though goats and foxes will also be controlled where they occur. Targeting a range of species will give threatened plants, plant communities and animals the best chance of survival after fires.
Please note – ground shooting will mostly be undertaken at night and will have no impact on people's ability to visit parks.
From March to June 2021, ground shooting is planned for the following parks:
- Alpine National Park*
- Anticline Caves Reserve
- Buchan Caves Reserve
- Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park*
- Cape Conran Coastal Park
- Coopracambra National Park*
- Croajingolong National Park*
- Errinundra National Park*
- Green Hills Nature Conservation Reserve
- Lake Tyers State Park
- Mount Buffalo National Park*
- Mount Granya State Park*
- Mount Lawson State Park*
- Mount Mitta Mitta Regional Park*
- Mount Stewart Nature Conservation Reserve
- Mountain Creek Education Area
- Pheasant Creek Flora Reserve
- Snowy River National Park*
- The Pyramids Cave Reserve
- Wabba Wilderness Park
*parts of this park will be closed while aerial shooting is underway
Please visit the specific park pages for the latest information about closures and conditions.
Aerial shooting
Aerial shooting is an appropriate, effective and humane method of control across large and remote areas which have been burnt and are difficult or unsafe to access by foot.
The aerial shooting program is targeting deer, feral pigs, feral goats, feral cattle and foxes, to give threatened plants, plant communities and animals the best chance of survival and recovery following the fires.
The following parks will be closed Mondays to Fridays during the following dates to ensure the safe implementation of the program.
Please visit specific park pages for the latest information about closures and conditions.
The aerial shooting program commenced February 2020 as an emergency response operation led by Forest Fire Management (DELWP). Management was handed over to Parks Victoria in June 2020 to continue delivery of the program during the fire recovery stage.
Park visitor information
Impacts to visitor access
- Parks will not be closed for ground shooting, however, there may be other factors impacting visitors’ ability to access parks. Please visit the specific park pages for the latest information about closures and conditions.
- The aim of the program is to reduce deer activity around significant environment values in burnt areas that are vulnerable to deer impacts, including alpine wetlands and rainforests. These environmental values occur in localised areas where control works will be focussed. Therefore, this program will have little impact on people’s ability to go hunting, and limited influence on people’s opportunity to shoot deer. Deer numbers in eastern Victoria are at such a level now that eradication is not possible using currently available control tools.
Safety and ethics
- The program will be carried out under strict conditions designed to ensure safe, effective, and humane practices are implemented. Suitably qualified and experienced contractors will be engaged to deliver the work.
- At the start of the program, every effort is made to advise all key stakeholders including neighbours, Licensed Tour Operators and school groups of Parks Victoria’s intent to undertake deer control and the proposed locations.
- Advisory signs will be placed in parks to inform visitors that deer control work is being carried out in the area. These are installed at the start of the program and removed at the end.
- Parks Victoria staff and contractors are ensuring all activities comply with requirements regarding hygiene and physical distancing, to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
- All contractors undertaking deer control, whether ground or aerial shooting, are instructed to act according to all relevant legislation, Codes of Practice and Standard Operating Procedures designed to ensure that high standards of animal welfare are observed during operations.
