They may be cute, but these critters cost Australia more than $90 million per year
According to a new report, Australia's growing feral deer population costs the country more than $90 million per year.
According to the Centre For Invasive Species Solutions, this is the first time a price tag has been attached to wild populations across the country.
They are expected to have a $91.3 million impact on Australian agriculture and the wider population by 2021, prompting calls for action.
"Feral deer numbers are expanding, as are their impacts," Centre chief executive Andreas Glanznig said.
"Without concerted action to control feral deer numbers the report finds that their costs are set to jump over the next few decades, with Australian agriculture bearing the brunt."
According to the report, the loss to Australian agriculture in 2021 will be approximately $69.1 million, with government-funded management and research costing approximately $17.8 million.
The impacts on motor vehicles was estimated at about $3.3 million, with train impacts involving deer adding a further $1.2 million.
A separate economic analysis of the impact of two species of deer on agriculture, forestry, and conservation efforts in Victoria — fallow and sambar deer — estimated a cost of $1.1 billion over the next 20 years.
Glanznig stated that large-scale, strategic action was required to meet the feral deer challenge, with hopeful signs on the innovation front.
"The Centre and its members, including the Australian Government and six state governments, have implemented Australia's first nationally coordinated and collaborative feral deer management research, development and engagement Program," he said.
"Taking this national approach has turbo-charged the development and refinement of new and better tools and management practices to control feral deer and avoided the potential for duplication at a state level."
Among the tools developed in the process is a "glovebox guide" that will offer land managers advice on how to manage feral deer, including using exclusion fencing.
The guide will be released in the coming weeks.
The country's first national feral deer action plan is also expected to be released soon.
(Source: 9 News )