Feral Thoughts

Australian version of "Deer Wars" developing

At least two books have been written entitled "Deer Wars".  Over 25 years ago the highly respected population ecologist Graeme Caughley wrote "Deer Wars: the history of deer in New Zealand" and more recently American Robert Frye has written of the conflict in "Deer Wars: Science, Tradition and the Battle over managing Whitetails in Pennsylvania".

Someone in Australia may have to write an account of deer conflict in this country. Deer are rapidly becoming one of the more controversial invasive species. At almost every talk I've given recently, someone brings up the topic during question time, whether I've covered deer in the presentation or not.

The most iconic example of the dysfunctionality of bringing six colonies together to form Australia is the railway gauge. Developed separately, Australia's railway network famously consisted of three different gauges: New South Wales adopted the European standard gauge of 1435 mm, Victoria and South Australia built with the broad Irish gauge of 1600 mm, and Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia and parts of South Australia used the narrow 1067 mm gauge. Apparently early in the century if you traveled from Perth to Brisbane you needed to change trains six times.

Deer are the equivalent of the railway system in terms of wildlife management in Australia. Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia regard deer as "pests" whereas New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania regard them as "game". It's more complex than that: "game" management varies considerably between the three resource-management States, and "deer" refers to six species (Sambar, Red, Fallow, Chital, Rusa and Hog) whose management can also vary considerably.

Public Meeting on the Shooter's Bill 25 August

You've got to give the Shooter's Party in New South Wales some credit. Robert Brown, the MLC proposing an amendment to the Game and Feral Animal Control Act has agreed to speak at a public meeting on the Bill at Ku-ring-gai Town Hall next Tuesday night. The meeting, organised by the NSW Nature Conservation Council, is likely to be a tough gig for Mr Brown, looking at the advertisements and other speakers.

"Fair and balanced" verdict on 60 Minutes hunting report

If public response to 60 Minutes story on hunting animals is any indication, there is an overwhelmingly positive reaction to Australian families taking up the gun in pursuit of deer at least (as opposed to the wonderful characterization of English fox hunts as "the unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable" by Oscar Wilde).  Judging by the timing of the comments, those shocked at hunting or teaching kids to hunt commented almost immediately, while those that thought it was a balanced or positive story came in over a longer period.

60 Minutes on hunting, ferals and probably more - Sunday 26 July

They've got enough footage to paint me as a great conservationist, a right-wing hick, a bleeding heart lefty or a plain old dope.

Last Friday I spent a day filming a 60 Minutes segment with reporter Charles Wooley, a cool WRX-blue Squirrel chopper, a mid-size feral boar and a cute-as-a-button piglet. Despite a really heavy cold, it was great fun.  Whether it's fun after it's screened Sunday night might depend on whether reporter Wooley caught my cold or not. 

Our discussion centred on the role of hunting in feral animal control.  At the moment, it plays a minor role at best in Australia.  Shooters would like to increase that role and in some States have adopted the term "conservation hunting" to reinforce that intent.  I have no problem with the intent, but I'd argue it isn't yet a reality, and some claims by some shooters that they could effectively take over the job of feral animal management is going way too far.

Invasive Species Council's argument deserves more than an "up yours" from the Game Council.

In doing some research for debates on a proposed new law on hunting in New South Wales, I've been surprised at the level of angst between the Game Council and the Invasive Species Council.  The Game Council is a NSW Statutory Body whereas the Invasive Species Council is a lobby group reminding us all of the impacts of weeds and feral animals and of the importance of biosecurity.

In a recent media release, the Chairman of the Game Council went as far as saying “In fact, if we are talking about ‘feral pests’, well that name describes ill-informed nuisance organisations such as the Invasive Species Council.”

Acclimatization - learning the lessons of more than a century ago

In 1879, the Prospectus of the N.S.W Acclimatization Society proclaimed:

That the Society shall immediately on its formation make arrangements for the procuring from Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America the Animals and Birds most sought after in the Colony either as Game to give sport or as songsters to enliven our bush homes...That application be made to the Government for the proclamation of certain Reserves in the different districts of the Colony, which Reserves shall be under the control of the Society for the purpose of Acclimatization and preserving their imported Animals and Birds;"

 It seems we haven't learned that much in the intervening 130 years.  The current proposal by the N.S.W Shooter's Party is remarkably similar to the 1879 acclimatizer's creed.  

The Victorian's were a little ahead of N.S.W in terms of acclimatization.  The Colony's Governor, his Excellency Sir Henry Barkly said in 1862 that he was coming around to the idea that Monkey acclimatization could be a good thing "for the amusement of the wayfarer whom their gambols would delight as he lay under some gum tree in the forest on a sultry day".  Sir Henry was, however, firmly against the acclimatization of boa constrictors, and he expressed relief that one had died on its trip from the Cape of Good Hope.

Sir Henry's successor, Governor Darling begged to differ.  He did not like monkeys "but I have no objection whatever to boa constrictors" he told the Society.  He was impressed with the drawing room antics of a pet boa constrictor, which would rear its head over the top of a piano and be the object of much curiosity, despite causing some initial alarm.  Indeed, Governor Darling advised the Society that it "is not wise to determine against the introduction of any species of snake".

The Shooter's Party wants to introduce pheasants for recreational shooting in N.S.W Game Reserves.  Pheasants caused no problems really in the first seven years they were in California. Until they hit the rice industry.  Then they became a significant problem costing farmers (not those that introduced them) lots of angst.  

It is easy to joke about acclimatization a century later, with the benefit of hindsight.  Today's politicians have the opportunity to apply foresight to this issue and avoid future bloggers having a laugh at their expense.  It seems an extraordinary legacy for a politician to want to leave.