A nonnative mule deer fawn wanders across Catalina Island.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The Catalina Island Conservancy has announced plans to eliminate around 2,000 nonnative deer by employing contracted hunters, moving away from a previously controversial method that involved helicopters.
According to the conservancy, the presence of deer increases the risk of wildfires by consuming native vegetation.
Conservationists argue that removing the deer is essential for protecting endemic species, while opponents advocate for alternatives such as expanded recreational hunting, relocation, or sterilization.
Santa Catalina Island’s mule deer are once again in the spotlight.
This month, the Catalina Island Conservancy revealed its strategy to eradicate the entire nonnative deer population, citing the animals’ contribution to wildfire risk.
Last year, the conservancy, which oversees 88% of the island, abandoned a plan to shoot the deer from helicopters due to significant community backlash and opposition from local representatives.
This time, professional contractors will use rifles to hunt the estimated 2,165 deer on the ground, as stated by Pepe Barton, the conservancy’s communications director.
In a conservation debate that juxtaposes native plants against introduced deer, residents of Catalina Island express a preference for venison over “stupid plants.”
The latest proposal has reignited familiar tensions, with some residents voicing their emotional connection to the deer and concerns about humane treatment. However, the conservancy maintains that the deer must be removed to restore the island’s ecological health.
“When deer consume native plants, they are replaced by invasive annual grasses, which dry out quickly and are highly flammable,” Barton explained. “When a fire occurs, the native plants attempting to regrow are often eaten again.”
He added, “It’s like a bad habit; the more it happens, the harder it is to break.”
The devastating wildfires in January served as a wake-up call. In response to fire threats, the nonprofit shut down the island’s interior and canceled all ecotours, while Southern California Edison cut power.
Catalina Island, located about an hour’s ferry ride from Long Beach, poses logistical challenges for emergency crews, according to Barton.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is currently reviewing the conservancy’s permit application for this restoration effort, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the agency.
If approved by the state, the hunt could commence as early as early next year, with an estimated duration of about five years.
L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose district includes the island, has urged state wildlife officials to reject the conservancy’s request. While she acknowledged the abandonment of aerial sharpshooting, she described the new proposal as “a drastic and inhumane approach that ignores the values of many Catalina residents and visitors.”
Protesters from the Coalition Against the Slaughter of Catalina Deer demonstrated in Avalon in October 2023 against a prior plan to shoot the deer.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone has countered the belief that deer pose a fire hazard, asserting that the animals help mitigate fire risks by consuming vegetation.
Hahn emphasized that the conservancy should explore every possible alternative before resorting to eradication, suggesting options like expanded hunting seasons, relocation, and sterilization.
On its website, the conservancy stated that it has considered and ruled out all those alternatives except for sterilization, which may be applicable for some deer around the city of Avalon.
Mule deer, recognized by their white hindquarters and impressive antlers, were introduced to the island in 1928 as game animals, according to Barton.
Although recreational hunting continues today, the nonprofit claims it has not effectively controlled the deer population. Last year, 1,000 hunting tags were issued, but only 379 deer were harvested, as reported by the conservancy.
If the deer removal plan is approved, locals will still be permitted to hunt during the designated season in the initial phases of the project, the nonprofit confirmed.
Brendan Cummings, conservation director for the Center for Biological Diversity, stated that removing the deer would provide hope for an island recognized as “among the state’s most fragile and imperiled biodiversity hot spots.”
Throughout the Channel Islands, an archipelago often referred to as the Galapagos of North America, the removal of invasive species has led to ecological recovery.
Cummings remarked, “If the unique and irreplaceable native species on Catalina are to survive and ultimately recover, the single most important action is to eliminate the nonnative deer herd from the island.”
A federally threatened Catalina Island fox observes a mule deer fawn drinking water in Avalon.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Currently, Barton noted that several plant species can only thrive on the island when protected by fencing, including the endemic island tree poppy.
He stated, “If you visit the fenced flora today, it resembles a museum of native plants because they must be safeguarded to survive.”
Source: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-10-08/new-proposal-seeks-to-eliminate-catalina-nonnative-deer
