‘Australia’s next rabbit plague’: calls for feral deer in Victoria to be considered a pest instead of wildlife

Victoria is home to perhaps the largest population and the only mainland state with legislative relic' of protections

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Land holders and managers along with landcare and environment groups want Victoria to remove protections for feral deer, as booming populations wreak havoc on agriculture and the local environment.

Jordan Crook, from the Victorian National Parks Association, said recognising deer as pests - alongside foxes, rabbits and pigs - would bring Victoria in line with the rest of mainland Australia.

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