Residents of southwest Brisbane have been warned of a growing deer population roaming the suburban streets, blocking roads and ruining native scrub.
Wildlife experts warn that more deer are likely to move to the suburbs during the winter months, adding that the animals may look cute but incredibly destructive.
“They’re not nice deer, they’re not Bambi, they’re not Rudolf, they’re bad deer,” said Shealagh Walker of Centenary and District Environment Action Inc.
Deer are blocking roads and treading native scrub in southwest Brisbane. (new)
He said deer also pose a danger to motorcyclists.
“Every night they’ll be seen somewhere in the centennial suburbs,” Walker said.
“They’ll be out eating people’s gardens and they’ll have to cross the roads to do so and they’re big beasts. It’s like hitting a small horse.”
More deer are expected to reach the suburbs during the winter. (new)
Residents in the Centennial suburbs have been creating makeshift fences and weaving sleeves for their trees to deter deer herds.
“It’s actually to prevent deer from eating the bark because when they run out of grass they start with the bark,” Walker said.
Craig Clark of McLeod Country Golf Club said the golf club grounds are also being trampled.
Residents filmed deer running down the roads of the centennial suburbs. (new)
“They can actually rip off a good chunk of the street when male deer fight with their big horns,” he said.
Clark added that there were probably more than 900 wandering around the area.
About 120 deer are slaughtered each year, but pests reproduce at a much faster rate.
Remarkable elephant image among acclaimed photos
Brisbane Mayor Adrian Schrinner said wild deer populations could be reported to Brisbane City Council.
“If they report deer to various places, we will be out there controlling and managing these wild deer populations and we will also try to actively reduce them,” he said.