Appalled
As a long-time visitor to Catalina, my family, friends and I are appalled at the idea of the slaugtering/murder of the mule deer on the Island. Who thought of this? Are they crazy?
Why do they think visitors come to Catalina? We come to see wildlife, the beach, clean air, and other things that we most likely don’t have at our homes.
When we visit, we are thrilled when we get to see one of those beautiful creatures. What’s next? The removal of the bison, the foxes, trees and plants that aren’t original to the Island? People? No more tourists?
I have been coming to Catalina since I was a baby in the ‘50’s and have since brought many generations of my family and friends to the Island. I have been dealing in and collecting Catalina Island pottery and memorabilia for as long as I can remember.
If the killing of the deer goes through, we will no longer be visiting. The idea of it is abhorrent. I predict you will lose many visitors. Please stop the slaughter from happening.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Kern
Scottsdale, Arizona
Thoughts on Island deer
1—Removing non-native animals (deer, buffalo) will restore the Island ecosystem which was proven effective in the video “Restoring Balance—Santa Cruz Island”. (19minutes, 32 seconds)
2—The good news is the animals can be saved by shipping them in crates (boats, helicopters) to the mainland similar to what the California Fish and Game National Park Service did to 100,000 sheep hundreds of sheep.(video)
3—That the City of Avalon can do nothing is pure nonsense! The Conservancy has an office in City limits.
4—A fund can be set up to protect the Island’s wildlands. The money can also pay for transporting the animals off the Island.
5—To the CIHS, the life of a deer is not lesser than that of a Buffalo (tourism).
So managing the population doesn’t cut it.
6—Instead of killing animals, The Conservancy, CIHS and hunters can collectively “take a hike”.
Donald Crew
Long Beach
Regarding the Conservancy presentation to City Council
On behalf of the Catalina Island Conservancy, I would like to thank those who attended the Avalon City Council meeting Tuesday evening to learn more about the Catalina Island Restoration Plan and its goal of making Catalina Island a more resilient and safe island for future generations. We listened closely to all of your comments.
To help ensure that you are informed, we would encourage you to review the presentation given by Dr. Lauren Dennhardt as it not only addresses many of the questions and concerns that were raised but also corrects misinformation and inaccuracies that have been circulating on social media.
We welcome your feedback and the continued dialogue about the Island Restoration Plan.
For those of you who were unable to attend the presentation, please visit https://catalinaconservancy.org/restoration-project-faqs/
We all want what is best for Catalina’s future.
Thank you,
Whitney Latorre
President & CEO
Catalina Island Conservancy
Stop whining
Regarding all this hoopla around getting rid of the Mule Deer: it seems rather foolish, all the way around, particularly the nonsense written by a deer? Is the writer concerned about identifying himself?
The pro deer people need to get over this. Stop whining about what is going to happen to the deer. Stop whining about no more “hunting” the deer.
Catalina Island is a beach resort community, not a game preserve that allows hunting. We do not need guns or hunting licenses. Hunters don’t belong here and neither do the deer.
Ask the 5,379 people who signed the petition to share the cost of moving the deer to a natural habitat, and see how many signers decline that request and disappear from the petition.
It was always a mistake to keep the deer on the Island. Now that mistake has to be corrected. They don’t belong here unless you don’t mind if one of your children gets bitten or kicked and it’s just a matter of time.
Claire Bourke
Cypress
Our City Council Members Must DO THEIR JOB
Here we share our thoughts about the DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES of the Members of The Avalon City Council, our elected officials, as regards the Catalina Island Conservancy’s unilateral edict to kill ALL our island deer. We are writing on behalf of the nearly 10,500 people who have formally joined the Coalition to Stop the Slaughter of Catalina Deer, 2300 of whom are confirmed island residents. We are writing here for all 10,500.
Each member of our City Council has been ELECTED by the people of this community to do the difficult JOB of making decisions affecting the physical, mental, and financial health of our community.
The people of this community expect you to DO YOUR JOB
- We have 9 members of our community who survived one of the largest mass shootings in our country’s history.
Anxiety and sleep problems already plague those who witnessed the slaughter of the pigs and goats. We stand behind them to DEMAND that you protect their mental health and ability to live in our town. DO YOUR JOB
- The potential financial impact to our local economy–still recovering from the strain imposed by Covid-19–is already being affected by this terrible idea. Many long-time visitors are already stating they don’t plan to return.
We EXPECT the City of Avalon to reject this heinous plan in order to protect our economy both current and future. DO YOUR JOB
3 The Conservancy and their butchers’ proposal to use the incredibly inhumane net-and-bolt method on deer in Avalon is illegal. Section 6-1.128(b) of the Avalon Municipal Code states that “no person shall beat, cruelly ill treat, torment, overload, overwork or otherwise abuse any animal. DO YOUR JOB
- We DEMAND that the members of this body do the work you were elected to do. The needs of the City’s constituents should be the priority of the City Council. This community has entrusted you with the solemn charge of representing OUR interests. We elected you to stand up for us and do what is right for OUR community. If carried out this decision will cause irreparable harm to this community and it is your job to take a stand to prevent that.
- We DEMAND that this body take immediate and strong FORMAL ACTION.
- We REQUIRE that each individual member of this body take a clear and public position on the Conservancy’s heinous plan. You are either for it or you are against it. There is no middle ground on this issue.
- We EXPECT that this collective body renounce the Conservancy’s heinous plan and their abject failure to treat this community with the respect and consideration we deserve by informing and consulting us on decisions that will have an outsize impact on our health and well-being.
- We DEMAND that this collective body take swift action to prevent the horrific and inhumane slaughter of animals in Avalon and the devastating impact such a slaughter will have on the residents of and visitors to this community by adding to Section 6 of the City’s municipal code the
ITS TIME FOR AN AMENDED ANIMAL PROTECTION ORDINANCE – We, your constituents, DEMAND that the City Council expand our already existing ordinance prohibiting the abuse of animals to specifically include:
- Explicit Protections: Although all animals are protected by our existing City ordinance, the ordinance should be expanded to explicitly include protections for wildlife within city limits including specifically but not limited to mule deer and bison;
- Transportation Restrictions: The ordinance should explicitly forbid the transportation by any means or physical luring of any such animal to private lands or lands under conservation where any animal may be subjected to harm or death; and
- Penalties and Enforcement: The ordinance should outline appropriate penalties for violations, including fines, community service, or other suitable measures. Enforcement mechanisms should also be established to ensure compliance. (We suggest a $10,000 fine per animal.)
We DEMAND that our elected city council members are responsive to our concerns. Simply, DO YOUR JOB.
Sincerely yours,
On Behalf of the Coalition to Stop the Slaughter of Catalina Deer
Robin Cassidy, resident of Catalina Island
Melinda Benson, former resident, Attorney at Law
