All deer on Catalina will be killed to restore the island’s natural environment

California wildlife officials have approved a plan to eradicate the entire Catalina deer population as part of a broader effort to restore the island’s ecosystem, sparking strong opposition from a rare coalition of hunters and animal welfare advocates.

According to a plan devised by the Catalina Island Conservancy, professional hunters will shoot down the island’s non-native mule deer within four to five years.

The conservancy, which owns and manages 88% of the island, says eliminating the deer is necessary to restore the island’s unique flora – including the Catalina Island Mountain Mahogany, which may be the rarest tree in North America. That would reduce the risk of wildfires, restore groundwater and allow other species to thrive, according to the nonprofit.

“No one wants to kill animals. Obviously, that’s not why we get into conservation work,” said Lauren Dennhardt, the area’s executive director of conservation. “But we know what’s at stake here, and it’s important for us to do the right thing, to make sure that this island stays and gets better for the future.”

In 1930, 10 deer were brought to the island about 22 miles off the coast of Southern California as a domesticated species — a number that has risen to more than 2,000 today, he said. Hunters are allowed to take deer, but this fall will mark the last chance (and it will be open only to locals).

Starting as soon as this September, a team of 10 to 12 trained hunters under federal law will descend on the island to hunt deer with rifles.

Some of the venison will feed the state’s endangered California condors, while other carcasses will be left on the ground – potential food for eagles and foxes.

A few deer in Avalon, Catalina’s only town, will be sterilized and allowed to live out their days on the island.

A previous strategy, which was scrapped due to a backlash, would have shot the animals from helicopters.

Despite giving up air hunting, many do not want to see a deer killed. Last week, LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who represents much of the island, urged the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to deny the permit needed to do so.

“This plan ignores the deeply held values ​​of many Catalina residents and visitors,” Hahn said in a Jan. 26 letter. He called it a “cruel and cruel approach” and said many islanders “value these deer.”

He also highlighted the concern of LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone that killing deer — which reduces flammable material by design — could increase the risk of wildfires.

A Catalina Island fox stares down a mule deer deer.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

“If we could direct the deer to eat only the invasive species, we would like to do that but, obviously, the deer eat all the vegetation,” said Pepe Barton, director of communications for the nature reserve.

According to Barton, when deer eat native plants, the plants are replaced by invasive grasses that grow quickly and dry out easily. Then, when wildfires occur and natives begin to replant, they are pushed back down, creating a vicious cycle.

Hunting groups such as Safari Club International and the California Rifle and Pistol Assn., as well as animal rights groups In Defense of Animals and the Humane Society, also oppose the killing.

The deer “provided a great opportunity to hunt in an area of ​​Southern California where there aren’t many opportunities to hunt big game,” said Regina Lennox, senior case consultant for the Safari Club. “So this is very important to us.”

He said it may be “in the middle” where deer are reduced, but not eliminated, for people to hunt and enjoy. The group is exploring its legal options.

On Friday, a few days after Supervisor Hahn’s request, the wildlife department granted the conservation permit.

In 2023, a moose calf watches its mother drink water at a feral cat feeding station behind the Descanso Beach Club in Avalon.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

In a statement, Jen Benedet, the department’s deputy director of public affairs, said the decision was “based on a scientific and legal review of the application. The work is “intended to support the recovery and long-term health of California’s natural species.”

Catalina is part of the Channel Islands, sometimes called the Galapagos of North America. Removing invasive species, including deer, has led to recovery on some islands, according to the conservationist’s Dennhardt.

Unlike the other islands, which are managed by the federal government, Catalina is a national territory. That means the state wildlife department is responsible for managing the game. But the hunt will not continue.

Dennhardt said restoring the island will also include clearing invasive plants, incorporating rare plant species and planting the area with native people.

“The thing we need to do before any of this happens at scale is to get rid of the mule deer,” he said.