General Impact
In South America there is now evidence of extensive dietary overlap of red deer (Cervus elaphus) with an endangered native heumel (see Hippocamelus bisulcus in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) and likely with guanaco, another native ungulate. Red deer have reached high densities locally with measureable effects on the flora (Flueck, W., pers. Comm., 2003).
Deer prevent regeneration of favoured plant species, which causes significant changes to the structure and composition of native ecosystems. At critical sites, non-replacement of canopy species can lead to canopy collapse. There is no evidence in New Zealand, Chile or Argentina, that equilibrium has been reached between deer and the native ecosystems they inhabit. Deer continue to inhibit forest regeneration even at low density (Department of Conservation Policy Statement on Deer Control, 2002).
Location Specific Impacts:Argentina 
Agricultural: Red deer (Cervus elaphus) compete with domestic herbivores (Werner, F., pers.comm., 2003).
Competition: Negative ecological impact of red deer (Cervus elaphus) has been described for both Chile and Argentina, and competition with native ungulates, such as guanaco, Lama guanicoe, or the Patagonian huemul (see Hippocamelus bisulcus in IUCN Red List of Threatened of Species), has been suggested.
Cervus elaphus showed an important overlap of resource use with the Patagonian huemul, Hippocamelus bisulcus, in the lenga forest habitat, Nothofagus pumilio. These included use of habitat and the dietary trophic niche. The amplitude of the ecological niche of the red deer was more than that of the huemul, suggesting that the red deer might be more flexible and opportunistic than the huemul in the use of the natural resources. The distribution of huemul in relation to the red deer was determined and mapped, and surveys of eight regions revealed the recent extinction of huemul in 50% of them. Smith-Flueck, J.M. 2003..
Modification of successional patterns: Red deer (Cervus elaphus) have been shown to affect forest rejuvenation dynamics (Werner, F., pers.comm., 2003). Chile
Competition: Negative ecological impact of red deer (Cervus elaphus) has been described for both Chile and Argentina, and competition with native ungulates, such as guanaco, Lama guanicoe, or the Patagonian huemul (see Hippocamelus bisulcus in IUCN Red List of Threatened of Species), has been suggested.
Cervus elaphus showed an important overlap of resource use with the Patagonian huemul, Hippocamelus bisulcus in the lenga forest habitat, Nothofagus pumilio. These included use of habitat and the dietary trophic niche. The amplitude of the ecological niche of the red deer was more than that of the huemul, suggesting that the red deer might be more flexible and opportunistic than the huemul in the use of the natural resources. The distribution of huemul in relation to the red deer was determined and mapped, and surveys of eight regions revealed the recent extinction of huemul in 50% of them. Smith-Flueck, J.M. 2003.. Auckland Region (New Zealand)
Disease transmission: Feral deer can act as vectors for Bovine Tb.
The fact that deer can disperse long distances means that they have the potential to spread TB and re-infect possum populations from which the disease has been eliminated.
Habitat alteration: Deer browsing and bark stripping have a significant impact
on natural areas.
The Department of Conservation New Zealand, in its policy on deer control, states that deer prevent regeneration of favoured plant species, which causes significant changes to the structure and composition of native ecosystems. At critical sites, non-replacement of canopy species can lead to canopy collapse. South America
Competition: Negative ecological impact of red deer (Cervus elaphus) has been described for both Chile and Argentina, and competition with native ungulates, such as guanaco, Lama guanicoe, or the Patagonian huemul (see Hippocamelus bisulcus in IUCN Red List of Threatened of Species), has been suggested.
Cervus elaphus showed an important overlap of resource use with the Patagonian huemul, Hippocamelus bisulcus, in the lenga forest habitat, Nothofagus pumilio. These included use of habitat and the dietary trophic niche. The amplitude of the ecological niche of the red deer was more than that of the huemul, suggesting that the red deer might be more flexible and opportunistic than the huemul in the use of the natural resources. The distribution of huemul in relation to the red deer was determined and mapped, and surveys of eight regions revealed the recent extinction of huemul in 50% of them. Smith-Flueck, J.M. 2003..
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