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The illegal release of deer in Omaha Scenic Reserve, near Mount Tamahunga, has sparked a joint Auckland Council and Department of Conservation (DOC) operation to hunt them down.
Deer are a legally declared pest species in Auckland and are considered feral whenever they are not held behind fencing that meets deer farming regulations.
In a memo to the Rodney Local Board, Auckland Council relationship advisor Anna Halliwell wrote that deer are selective browsers that tended to target some forest species over others. This could result in a significant change in the forest make up and have adverse knock-on effect on animals who rely on the plants.
She said failure to address the issues caused by the illegal release could lead to a deer population becoming established and put the high ecological value of the area at risk.
The memo explained that a “reliable source” had informed a DOC contractor that six fallow deer had been illegally released in the Tamahunga area, following a deer sighting on March 16.
Four deer have since been shot. Council head of natural environment delivery Phil Brown says Council is confident that they will be able to eradicate the remaining deer, though culling had to be suspended to check whether it could still be carried out under Alert Level 3.
“Our quick action means deer are near zero in that area now,” he said.
Mr Brown said sometimes deer were released by a farmer who no longer wished to keep the animals.
“Releasing them from captivity is seen as an easy option to remove them from the farm. Recreational hunting may also be a driver for feral deer releases,” he said.
“It is illegal to release deer into the wild and perpetrators can face up to $15,000 in fines.”
The public is encouraged to report sightings of feral deer by emailing biosecurity@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or calling 09 301 0101.
