THE DEER MENACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22329, 1 August 1934, Page 12

THE DEER MENACE

OPERATIONS OF DEPARTMENT HEAVY CULLING STILL REQUIRED. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, July 31. A review of the progress made by the Department of Internal Affairs in dealing with the deer menace over the past four seasons—the period during which the department has pursued an active policy—is contained in the annual report of the department which was laid on the table in the House of Representatives to-day. During these four years approximately 100,000 deer are known to have been killed, states the . report, and no doubt a great many more must have been killed by persons and means unknown to the department following the total removal of protection on the animals. If 100,000 deer were concentrated into one herd it would completely fill, allowing each beast just comfortable standing room, a road a chain wide for a distance of approximately four miles. Again, estimating the carrying capacity of a small sheep station at, say, 2000 sheep, and considering that a deer eats as much as two sheep, it means that the deer killed were capable of consuming as much as the stock of 100 sheep stations. It is not suggested, however, that all these deer were inhabiting country capable of carrying sheep, but large numbers were and in any case they were eating something which was of value to the country, either as sheep or cattle food or in fulfilling the natural functions of the native forest or alpine vegetation. Recognising that these facts refer only to the deer killed, it will be realised that by the addition of those remaining the effect of the total infestation is a problem of national importance.

Even the foregoing, however, does not reveal the full potentialities of the position, as it is necessary to consider the effect of the natural increase which would have resulted from this 100,000 deer had they not been destroyed. It will be recognised, therefore, that the time was rapidly approaching, when such numbers would have been compelled to feed entirely on what are now sheep stations, and that the forests could not possibly have survived the depredations of the hordes which were so rapidly developing. The department has been endeavouring to account for the destruction of the largest number of deer with the finance available. It realises, however, that even in the localities which have been covered it would have been desirable to have had an even more extensive clearing up, but this was not possible owing to the limited funds.

With the exception of the action taken in the Waikaremoana district some time ago, all the party operations have been in the South Island. It seems evident that in the South Island consideration should be given to a plan by which the whole of the deer-infested areas can be dealt with on comprehensive lines under a scheme covering a number of years. Concern is being expressed at the damage to bush by deer in the Taravua Ranges in the Wellington district. The department has had reports from its own officers on the conditions in this locality, and it is proposed to give consideration to the question of having this area cdVered by a departmental party.