A two-year project to eradicate sika deer from the forest started last April as the first phase in a wider initiative between the Northland Regional Council, Department of Conservation, and local hapū.
Councillor Marty Robinson, who represents the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa constituency, said the removal of the deer from the ngahere in Russell to date was “excellent progress”.
A range of tools and technologies had been used to track the animals, including a large network of cameras.
Next month, staff would analyse the camera footage alongside scat (faeces) and tissue samples to refine maps of deer locations so they could be targeted efficiently, Robinson said.
An aerial view of Russell Forest, taken in 2018. Photo / NZME
Northland MP Grant McCallum noted the deer eradication plan was also helping to reduce the spread of kauri dieback disease, the spores of which live in soil and can be transferred around areas by ungulate (hoofed) animals.
A recent article in the Advocate focused on the culling of wild goats to curb the spread of the kauri-killing disease, drew criticism from people who misunderstood that the goat population was only being culled to a level that the bush could tolerate - not completely eradicated.
Critics said the goats were an important local food source they did not want to lose.
McCallum said locals shouldn’t lament the eradication of deer in Northland. Deer were already so scarce in this region that hunters hankering for a taste of venison usually stalked it elsewhere.
It was only because deer numbers were so low that Northland could even aspire to its goal of being deer-free, McCallum said. The advantages for the environment would be huge.
Robinson said Northland hunters’ response to the project had been predominantly positive.
“The majority of the public has a good awareness of how damaging wild deer can be to our forests and they can also spread stock diseases like bovine tuberculosis.”
A deer harvested from Russell Forest was shared with the community at Te Kura O Waikare's Matariki celebration, last year. Photo / supplied
He agreed with McCallum that most Northland hunters after venison pursued opportunities in other parts of the country, where deer populations were larger and more established.
The deer removed from Russell Forest had not been wasted. Where possible, the meat was given back to landowners or shared with the community. For instance, harvested deer had been transformed into sausages and patties for Te Kura O Waikare’s Matariki celebration, last year.
“Sika deer are relatively small, typically yielding 10–20kg of meat once processed, but it has been incredibly rewarding to share over 240kg of venison through this programme. This aligns with our goal of minimising waste, supporting local communities, and achieving biosecurity outcomes,” Robinson said.
Northland’s populations of feral deer are small and sparse - established either from illegal releases or escapes from farms, Robinson said. There were only 13 known areas where deer had been detected in Northland.
“These low numbers make eradication achievable, but ongoing vigilance is crucial to prevent [further] establishment,” he said.
Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in journalism, much of which she spent court reporting. She is passionate about covering stories that make a difference
