Letters to the Editor: published Sept. 20, 2023

Against killing Island deer

The Catalina Island Humane Society Board strongly opposes the decision by the Catalina Island Conservancy to kill all the deer on Catalina Island.

The Conservancy wants things to be “the way they were”. But how far back can you go? Should all the Eucalyptus trees be removed along with the grapevines? Will the Bison be next?

The mule deer have been on this island for nearly 100 years. Their gentle presence is an integral part of our island’s natural appeal.

The Conservancy has an opportunity to be a benchmark organization by showing its humane efforts to efficiently control the deer population. Rather than rekindling the memory of its brutal, horrific, and heinous management of the goat and pig slaughter, the Conservancy could choose a more honorable course by dealing with the deer in a non-lethal manner.

Deer hunting by ethical and responsible deer hunters has proven to be a successful method of keeping the deer population balanced. Nature also steps in during times of drought and the birth rate diminishes. It would be valuable to know what the State of California Department of Fish and Wildlife deem a manageable and healthy number for our 47,844 acre island. And who has determined that one deer is one too many for Catalina?

Another method of population control is the use of PZP. There are multiple studies across the country showing the viability of using PZP as an immunocontraceptive with deer. It has been proven effective in lasting up to 3 years per administration and can be delivered by hand or remotely by a dart gun. This is a non-lethal solution which results in a reduction in population and healthier deer.

What is this new killing going to cost the Conservancy? It is financially a very expensive undertaking and it also could be very costly in alienating current and future donors.

Shooting deer from helicopters, using the net and bolt procedure (gruesome and violent), and leaving the bodies to “replenish the soil”, is that really acceptable by any standard? When a game animal is killed, we’re supposed to harvest the meat and deal respectfully with the creature that God has provided for us. Where is the dignity in slaughtering these innocent animals which are beloved by so many.

The money could be better spent on a more humane approach. Instead of being on the killing end, the Conservancy should stake their reputation as the organization that rescued the Island fox from extinction and instigated a healthier, kinder solution for the island mule deer.

Dianne Stone

Catalina Island Humane Society

Trying to understand vacation rental issue

As a vacation rental guest (I detest the term, “transient”) for various periods of time in the past fifty (50) years, I am trying to get an idea of what all the talk is about summer rentals:

1 – Some of the comments made by those who organized these sessions seem redundant … lock boxes on summer rental? … CIVR already has them on their rentals.

2 – Think about putting a cap on the number of summer rentals? Too late for that. Unless you have a sustainable way to replace the income you are going to lose. The 2.4 million a year from the occupancy tax into the Avalon budget.

That number should be broken down between the hotels and the vacation rentals.

3 – Occupancy restrictions are already in place, on both hotel registration forms and the vacation rental contract.

4 – You cannot limit the number of rentals an owner may want to own until you come up with a policy that restricts the number or pushes it to a commercial (new set of rules) usage.

5 – Trash costs? Do I understand correctly, long term rental residents create less trash?

6 – Much of the Avalon population that needs long term housing could not afford a long term rental. Rental income to cover the loan payment, insurance, etc., would be too high for minimun wage workers. This is why, living behind one of our summer rentals in Avalon, was a family of six adults with several children. Now that was a noise issue from a long term rental.

7 – Law enforcement costs. Read the Sheriff’s Log in the Islander. The majority of calls appear to be alcohol related (as in too much) and seem to come from day visitors, hotel occupants and residents.

8- There are a large number of businesses in Avalon receiving income from summer rental business. That group needs to be represented here. As so should the Summer Rental agencies.

It will be interesting to see the comments from the town hall meetings you have been holding. Excuse the delay in responding to the articles. My paper comes 10 days after publication.

Sincerely

Claire J. Bourke

CC – Mayor Ann Marshall

City Council of Avalon