Apr12_Deer in the Pine Rivers Catchment
Deer are beautiful animals. Many people enjoy the presence of deer. However the deer are feral animals and in the Pine Rivers Catchment the red deer and some fallow deer seem to be increasing and causing damage to orchards and native plants.
During University research by Ian Smith (Vice President, Pine Rivers Catchment), it has been found that red deer are eating bunya cones before the seeds are dispersed which means that the wild Bunyas will die out in their smaller rainforest areas.
In January 2012, two Pine Rivers Catchment members observed, that two red deer stags were eating Macadamia in an orchard east of Dayboro. The Macadamia spp. is an endangered species in the rainforest.
Red deer (Cervus elaphus) are native to the traditional continents of Europe and Asia. They were released in 1873 and 1874 by the Queensland Acclimatisation Society with the consent of the Queensland Government. The original animals were a gift from Queen Victoria to provide "… additional food and sport’ for the people of the State". The initial release of six hinds and three stags occurred at Cressbrook near Esk. Red deer are now found in Southeast Queensland and in the New Zealand Southern Alps. The red deer exploded in New Zealand as there were no predators and no large native mammals. In Queensland, there were dingoes and ticks that attacked them, but since the 1970s they have increased their numbers and are spreading along the ranges. Fallow deer (Dama dama) are found in Stanthorpe, near the ACT and in the Caples Valley in New Zealand and small numbers seem to have been released west of Dayboro.
The deer should be managed to protect the natural environment. The Pine Rivers Catchment Association will explore options for management but before the management can be done, we need to know the number and distribution of deer in the Catchment. We are asking people to report their sightings as well as presenting their ideas to manage the deer and we would collate the reports. Perhaps even the possibility of harvesting the deer could be discussed. Using Google, the British BBC cooking shows were queried for venison recipes (the meat of the deer) and over 50 recipes were found.
In March or April the red and fallow deer are starting to mate, and the stags start to roar with special sounds. On the Internet, you can hear the stag’s mating call, the red deer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97ORGksHhKw&feature=related and the fallow deer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWtPvUe3dcs&feature=related.
If you happen to notice deer in your area, could you contact the Pine Rivers Catchment above, or contact Ian Smith on 0427 772 919 and give us a detailed position.
We will be consulting with Moreton Bay Regional Council and Biosecurity Queensland about the deer project and any confidential information from the local community would ensure greater success with the management of the deer.
In January 2012, two Pine Rivers Catchment members observed, that two red deer stags were eating Macadamia in an orchard east of Dayboro. The Macadamia spp. is an endangered species in the rainforest.
Red deer (Cervus elaphus) are native to the traditional continents of Europe and Asia. They were released in 1873 and 1874 by the Queensland Acclimatisation Society with the consent of the Queensland Government. The original animals were a gift from Queen Victoria to provide "… additional food and sport’ for the people of the State". The initial release of six hinds and three stags occurred at Cressbrook near Esk. Red deer are now found in Southeast Queensland and in the New Zealand Southern Alps. The red deer exploded in New Zealand as there were no predators and no large native mammals. In Queensland, there were dingoes and ticks that attacked them, but since the 1970s they have increased their numbers and are spreading along the ranges. Fallow deer (Dama dama) are found in Stanthorpe, near the ACT and in the Caples Valley in New Zealand and small numbers seem to have been released west of Dayboro.
The deer should be managed to protect the natural environment. The Pine Rivers Catchment Association will explore options for management but before the management can be done, we need to know the number and distribution of deer in the Catchment. We are asking people to report their sightings as well as presenting their ideas to manage the deer and we would collate the reports. Perhaps even the possibility of harvesting the deer could be discussed. Using Google, the British BBC cooking shows were queried for venison recipes (the meat of the deer) and over 50 recipes were found.
In March or April the red and fallow deer are starting to mate, and the stags start to roar with special sounds. On the Internet, you can hear the stag’s mating call, the red deer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97ORGksHhKw&feature=related and the fallow deer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWtPvUe3dcs&feature=related.
If you happen to notice deer in your area, could you contact the Pine Rivers Catchment above, or contact Ian Smith on 0427 772 919 and give us a detailed position.
We will be consulting with Moreton Bay Regional Council and Biosecurity Queensland about the deer project and any confidential information from the local community would ensure greater success with the management of the deer.
Following the story in "The Westerner" an owner in Cedar Creek took this photo of a deer. The photos were then identified by Biosecurity Queensland as a Rusa Deer, (Cervus timorensis) which is native to South-East Asia. The species is widespread in the Indonesian archipelago. So another introduced species is spreading in the Pine Rivers area!!
