Hog Deer Management Strategy

Hog Deer in Kangaroo habitatHog deer are of interest to FOGL as these introduced animals enjoy protected wildlife status and graze freely doing inestimable damage within public Parks & Reserves around the Gippsland Lakes. Their management is inefficient and is not consistent with existing DSE standards.

DSE has released a draft Hog Deer Management Strategy, as part of the Victorian Government’s Enhancing Game Management Initiative. When adopted the strategy will direct management of hog deer on private and public land for the following five years.

The approved terms of reference provide for the development of a management strategy for hog deer that:

  • ensures a viable population throughout its current range and that its presence is managed according to land tenure objectives
  • provides for sustainable, quality Hog Deer hunting opportunities on areas where the activity is consistent with land reservation status
  • considers improvements and efficiencies to current management practices for Hog Deer hunting throughout the current range
  • improves opportunities on private land, in order to strengthen relations between landowners and hunters, encourage improved access to hunting, and educate and encourage landowners to provide quality habitat for Hog Deer.

coastal banksia - rutting damageThe Strategy passes major responsibility for management plans to hunters and private landowners, DSE and Parks Victoria.

The draft strategy was open for public submissions until 17 December 2008.

FOGL’s submission to the draft strategy can be read >>here.

David Ellard
President


Constant scraping of antlers that tears away the tree’s bark means these plants don’t get a chance to grow.

Gippsland Lakes sea-level rise map

Interesting site – you can alter the amount of sea-level rise to see the varying effects on the Gippsland Lakes coastline.
Go here
Flood level inundation visualization for Lakes Entrance by Monash University
Go here

Silvershot Interps Sign Launch and Joe Stephens toodaloo

Took place Thursday 18 September at Silvershot (on Boole Poole Peninsula opposite Metung).

The Interps Sign and accompanying Park Note will give visitors and locals greater insight into the interesting flora, fauna and landscape of Boole Poole.

Joe Stephens was presented with perpetual Honourary Membership to thank him for his outstanding commitment and contribution to the environmental health of the Gippsland Lakes Parks and Reserves.

Joe will be sorely missed but FOGL wishes him every success in his new venture.

Joe Stephens - communicator extraordinaire

Excerpts from “The threat posed by pest animals to biodiversity in New South Wales”

 "Comparisons of all threats showed that pest animals are contributing significantly to biodiversity decline in New South Wales, posing the fourth greatest threat, behind land clearing, altered fire regimes and weeds. Collectively, alien species (pest animals and weeds) pose the second greatest threat. Pest animals also rank highly when compared with broader processes threatening biodiversity (as outlined in the threat hierarchy developed here), such as the destruction and modification of native vegetation.

Pest animals pose a threat to 40% of the threatened biodiversity in New South Wales. These 388 threatened species at risk include 154 plants, 186 animals, 17 endangered populations and 31 endangered ecological communities. A total of 29 individual pest animal species were identified as placing 322 threatened species at risk. A specific pest animal species could not be determined for the other 66 threatened species at risk from pest animals, as the threat was poorly articulated or described (for example, described as ‘introduced predators’ or as a group of alien animals such as rodents or deer).

The majority of the 29 pest animals could be classified as either predators, herbivores or fishes. Feral cats, red foxes and wild dogs are the main alien predators threatening biodiversity, while feral goats, rabbits and feral pigs are the main alien herbivores. The main alien freshwater fishes threatening biodiversity are gambusia, redfin perch and European carp."

&

“Given the potential application of this information to conservation managers, the approach could be used in other states and territories as well as for Commonwealth threatened species, to give a national picture of biodiversity threatened by pest animals.”

Read the full paper here (1.5mb download) 

Coutts-Smith, A.J., Mahon, P.S., Letnic, M. and Downey, P.O. (2007). The threat posed by pest animals to biodiversity in New South Wales. Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, Canberra.

Vale Glen Forster

Glen Forster, the East Gippsland Coast Action/Coastcare Facilitator has taken a River Health Policy role with DSE in Melbourne and will be leaving his current role on August 3.
Glen has been a great support and inspiration for many local volunteer groups and will leave a significant legacy.
Glen, FOGL thanks you and wishes you well.