Feral deer monitoring to assist landholders control local populations

09 Sep 2021

Landholders in the Western region will soon have access to the latest, locally specific information on feral deer, with two monitoring sites currently capturing the movements of the pest species in the Oxley and Louth areas.  

The monitoring sites, which were set-up in June and August respectively, are capturing the densities and species of feral deer which are present, with the data to be used when developing local feral deer management programs.  

In the coming months, the fixed sensor monitoring cameras will be retrieved, with the data downloaded and analysed.  

Western Local Land Services, who are working with landholders, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service on this project, will then hold information sessions in the Oxley and Louth areas.  

Planning has commenced on the information sessions, which will hopefully be held in October, COVID-19 restrictions allowing. 

Western Local Land Services Regional Pest Animal Coordinator, Phil Baird said the data gained from the monitoring cameras will be used to plan targeted management programs with local landholders and stakeholders.  

“Feral deer are similar to wild dogs, they are intelligent, elusive animals and therefore difficult to control,” Mr Baird said.  

“By undertaking this monitoring we’ll get a benchmark of densities and the species present, as well as other information which can be used to firstly engage with landholders and stakeholders, and to make plans for management activities and programs.”  

Western Local Land Services will provide further information about the information sessions and the project more broadly in due course.  

Feral deer are now found across approximately 22 per cent of NSW, up from 17 per cent in 2016, while deer were newly reported in 2020 across an area of 46,000 square kilometres.       

For more information about the monitoring cameras, the information sessions or feral deer management in general, please contact your local Western Local Land Services biosecurity officer on 1300 795 299 or by clicking here.

Media contact: Charlie Whiteley, Western Local Land Services, 0428 679 974.