The Catalina Island Conservancy is now proposing to remove the Island’s deer population by having professional hunters eradicate them on the ground. According to Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office, this will take place over a period of five years.
“The Conservancy recently applied for a Scientific Collection Permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife that would allow professional hunters to eliminate the deer over a five-year period,” according a statement from Hahn’s Office.
The Conservancy is arguing that the deer eradication is necessary to restore the Island and that deer contribute to wildfire risks by eating native plants. The deer are not native to the Island.
The Conservancy on Friday, Oct. 3, announced “Operation Protect Catalina Island,” a 30-year restoration plan. Part of the plan includes creating “Balance for wildlife,” which includes the deer removal. (For the Conservancy’ announcement, see page 2.)
Conservancy plan
“Deer removal is just one part of our efforts to protect Catalina,” wrote Pepe Barton, director of Communications for the Conservancy in an Oct. 9 email.
“We heard from the community and have removed aerial shooting of deer from our island restoration plan. The Conservancy has shifted to ground-based management carried out by trained specialists using rifles in controlled operations under strict safety protocols. This will be part of a multi-year effort and will not happen overnight,” Barton.
“A restoration management permit was submitted to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and is under review,” Barton wrote.
“Our outreach includes regularly scheduled conversations with the community. The first one is next Tuesday with details located here https://catalinaconservancy.org/event/community-conversation-operation-protect-catalina-island/,” Barton wrote.
The Conservancy’s website provided more details. Space does not allow the reprinting of the entire text of the web page.
“We’re combining traditional ground-based methods for invasive deer removal with cutting-edge wildlife monitoring to restore balance,” according to the Conservancy website.
“The removal of invasive deer is the only option for island restoration following review of multiple alternatives,” the Conservancy website said. (For details, see catalinaconservancy.org/protect/balance/.)
“Invasive mule deer were introduced to Catalina in the 1920s and now severely over browse native plants and eat seedlings before they can re-establish,” the Conservancy website said.
“Based on community feedback, we have removed aerial shooting of invasive mule deer,” the website said.
(There was strong public opposition to the aerial eradication plan when it first broke in the news media in 2023. At the time, the Conservancy argued that mule deer population poses a threat to the Island and its endangered plant species. The Conservancy announced it would cancel the aerial removal plan in May 2024.)
“Instead, the primary removal method will be carried out by professionals on-the-ground,” website said.
“The plan will be conducted with the highest standards of safety and humane practice over multiple years. This will not happen overnight,” the website said.
“The project’s methods are designed for complete population removal and follow the stringent guidelines set by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) for humane handling and depopulation,” the Conservancy website said.
The Conservancy opposes relocating the deer. “Capture and transport cause severe stress, often leading to death. Moving deer to the mainland raises disease concerns. State would never approve,” the Conservancy website said.
Opposition
“The Coalition to Save Catalina Island Deer unequivocally opposes the Conservancy’s latest attempt to gain state approval for the mass slaughter of Catalina Island’s mule deer,” wrote Wendy Hernandez.
“It’s astonishing that, after the public outcry and failure of their last attempt, the Conservancy has returned with another deeply flawed plan—again crafted in secrecy, without community input or stakeholder engagement,” Hernandez wrote.
“They are once again selling the public a lie—drawing baseless conclusions, misrepresenting data as settled science, and leaning heavily on fear-mongering tactics, hoping panic will substitute for proof. There seems to be no limit to how far they’ll go to convince the public that Catalina’s deer are an existential threat to the Island,” Hernandez wrote.
“One of the most disturbing aspects of this campaign is the use of an image from the devastating 2007 fire to stir fear and support for their plan. This is not only manipulative—it’s deeply insulting. Many believe that fire would not have been nearly as destructive had the Conservancy fulfilled its responsibility to manage the land and reduce wildfire risk. To now weaponize that tragedy in the name of conservation is a betrayal of public trust,” Hernandez wrote.
“Let’s be clear: this is not about fire prevention, native plant restoration, or the long-term health of Catalina Island. The push to extirpate a population of deer that has lived on the Island for nearly a century is about something else entirely. It’s about a long-running effort by a powerful private interest to reshape Catalina into an ecotourism hotspot—one that doesn’t include our beloved mule deer, which inconveniently disrupt the carefully crafted narrative,” Hernandez wrote.
“But we’ve been here before—and we haven’t forgotten,” Hernandez wrote.
“Last time, we built a broad, passionate coalition—people united by their love for these animals and outraged by the lies and backdoor dealings that threatened them. That coalition is still here. Stronger than ever and ready to fight again,” Hernandez wrote.
“We will not be silenced. We will not be misled. And we will not allow the destruction of Catalina’s mule deer to go unchallenged,” Hernandez wrote.
“This is not conservation. This is a betrayal of trust—and we will stand against it,” Hernandez wrote.
Supervisor Hahn also argued against the proposal.
“I remain strongly opposed to the Catalina Island Conservancy’s new proposal to eliminate the island’s mule deer population,” Hahn said.
“These animals have been part of Catalina’s landscape for nearly a century, and the Conservancy should be attempting every possible alternative before resorting to their eradication. Options like expanded hunting seasons, relocation, or sterilization have not been fully pursued, and I believe those deserve real investment and consideration,” Hahn said.
According to her statement, a Los Angeles County Fire Chief told her that he believed mule deer help minimize fire risks by eating plants.
