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

Feral deer in Grampians national park. Conservationists say recognising deer as pests would bring Victoria in line with the rest of mainland Australia. Photograph: Bjorn Svensson/Alamy

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.