Map reveal: How monster feral deers invade Coast suburbs

The city’s deer population is increasing so fast it can no longer be removed, with the huge feral pests spreading to urban areas and posing a serious road safety threat.

The city’s deer population is increasing so fast it can no longer be removed, with the huge feral pests spreading to urban areas and posing a serious road safety threat.

New mapping shows the “declared” pests are permanent residents in the city’s floodplain between Robina and Carrara, west of Nerang in the state forest and north to Maudsland bordering Pacific Pines.

The biggest concern is the sightings of deer moving south into the hinterland, west of the Mudgeeraba township, south of Advancetown and west of Tallebudgera.

Councillors have approved a biosecurity management program that lists four species – Fallow deer, Red deer, Rusa deer and Chital deer – as “critical” in terms of a citywide management strategy.

A community briefing sparked tensions with animal rights activists opposed to shootings.

A biosecurity officer said: “Satellite and outlying populations will be eradicated and core populations contained to lessen the risk posed by these pests.

“Containment is the most effective strategy when the pest has a core population within part of the city but can still be eradicated from new sites.

“It has been identified that it is not feasible to eradicate these species from the city as their distribution within the core is too large.”

The most humane methods available to control deer in urban areas include exclusion fencing, considered to be expensive, trapping and shooting.

In more sparsely populated areas, it was common practice to control deer by aerial shooting.

Hinterland-based councillor Glenn Tozer said the city each year agreed to a program addressing “declared” pest animals and plants where council exercised control measures.

“We also resolve a surveillance program, which means we monitor for future possible intervention. The program is somewhat flexible and is designed to enable us to address emerging threats,” he said.

“We are collecting data on locations and numbers now and this is a critical part of our action plan. The Feral Scan app, available on your preferred app store, will help with that collection of data.

“We are seeing deer regularly in Gilston, Advancetown, Numinbah, Mt Nathan and Nerang, as well as further north in Willow Vale and northern agricultural land, and a few sightings in Currumbin Valley and surrounds.”

Cr Tozer acknowledged the challenges created by deers extended beyond damage to the natural environment, with herds creating road safety problems in some suburbs.

“A fully grown stag can be several hundred kilograms and wreck a moving vehicle. The environmental damage can also be significant.”

An option was culling, which had occurred previously in the Nerang State Forest.

“Yes, control measures include culling. Containment is difficult. Carcass removal can be difficult when baiting is utilised. It can be a messy issue in our city, which is why funding must be allocated to the strategy to help residents impacted,” Cr Tozer said.

Councillor Glenn Tozer — encouraging residents to report a sighting and drive carefully. Picture: Jerad Williams.

He asked residents to use the Feral Scan app or visit feraldeerplan.org.au to report a sighting.

“Stay away from deer. Do not feed them. Drive safely and slowly in areas where they have been sighted,” Cr Tozer said.

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Originally published as Map reveal: How monster feral deers invade Coast suburbs