Watch out: Council urging residents to be wary as feral deer hit the road

It’s that time of year where deer can start to pop up more frequently in unusual places - like the middle of your residential street.

It’s why Wollongong City Council is urging residents to be wary when out driving or riding, particularly around the escarpment fringe where deer are more likely to pop up in the cooler months of the year.

Acting Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Linda Campbell urged residents to take care, particularly at times deer are more likely to be around motorways, roads and bike tracks.

“Anyone out and about at this time of year would likely have come across deer at some point, and we know that May can see increase of deer movements,” Councillor Campbell said.

“We’re urging people to be more aware, particularly after dark or the early hours in the morning when deer are more likely to be on the move. Deer can obviously damage a vehicle, or worse, cause accidents or injury to drivers or riders.”

Council has been part of the Illawarra Feral Deer Management Program (IFDMP) from its inception in 2011, and works collaboratively with South East Local Land Services (SELLS), National Parks, RSPCA, NSW Police and private landholders to cull feral deer.

Feral deer are classified as a pest animal under the Biosecurity Act (2015) and Council works extensively with SELLS, which coordinates the IFDMP, to reduce the number and impact of deer in urban areas of the Wollongong Local Government Area.

This involves working with land holders to cull pest species at multiple authorised sites across the Illawarra. Site selection is based on risk assessments performed by SELLS and Council.

Apart from the safety issues deer present for drivers and bike riders, they also have detrimental impacts on our natural environment. Council works with SELLS Council and the NSW department of Primary Industries (DPI) to undertake research of deer distribution and densities and to investigate further control measures.

“Feral deer are not just a problem for Wollongong, but the natural geography of our area makes it a unique challenge to manage,” Councillor Campbell said.

“It’s not something Council can tackle on our own, nor is it our sole responsibility, so it’s important we collaborate with all levels of government and our Illawarra Feral Deer Management Program partners to address the ongoing issue.

“This feral species can devastate our natural environment and have an impact on private property and the safety of our community members. We remain committed to working with SELLS to support the deer culling program and other initiatives that seek to reduce their numbers.’’

Community members can also support the management of feral deer by reporting sightings through Feralscan, with information about sightings shared on the website used to plan future control programs.

Injured deer should be reported to NSW Police or the RSPCA, while Council’s website also has information and advice for those who may get deer in their gardens or on their property.

For specific operational enquiries regarding the Illawarra Feral Deer Management Program, please contact the Deer Coordinator at South East Local Land Services, on 02 4464 6000.