The Catalina Island Conservancy has received approval to cull nearly all of its approximately 2,000 mule deer population over the next five years. A Los Angeles County judge on Tuesday tentatively rejected a legal challenge aimed at blocking the plan, paving the way for the conservancy to begin reducing the herd. The nonprofit, which manages 88% of the island, plans to kill approximately 2,000 mule deer, with an estimated 200 animals slated to be hunted with rifles in the coming two months.
This initiative is intended to protect the island's native vegetation and mitigate wildfire risks. Scientists have noted that the deer's grazing habits have contributed to the proliferation of invasive grasses, which are more flammable than native shrubs. Anna L. Jacobsen, a plant biologist at California State University, Bakersfield, who studied the island's ecosystem after fires in 2006 and 2007, stated that the native plants, already threatened by climate change, struggle to regenerate when repeatedly consumed by deer. This overgrazing allows invasive grasses to take over, increasing the ease with which fires ignite and spread.
The mule deer population was introduced to Catalina Island about a century ago by hunters. Over time, despite environmental challenges and regular hunting seasons, the herd grew significantly. Max Moritz, a wildfire specialist advising state and local governments, described the removal of deer as the most practical approach from both ecological and fire-prevention standpoints.
Previously, the conservancy considered contraception and sterilization, but these methods were deemed impractical for such a large population. Fencing was also rejected as a solution. Introducing natural predators was considered too dangerous for native wildlife and residents. Furthermore, four decades of recreational hunting failed to substantially reduce the deer population.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife approved the conservancy's culling plan in January. Under the approved plan, a small group of deer near Avalon will be spared and undergo sterilization. Island residents will also have an opportunity for one final hunting season from late October through mid-December. The meat from the culled deer is intended for donation to local tribal groups or for use in California condor recovery programs. Carcasses will be removed from roads and hiking trails, while those in remote areas may be left to decompose naturally.
The plan has drawn opposition from a coalition of animal-rights activists and hunters. An online petition to halt the cull has garnered over 32,000 signatures. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn had appealed to Gov. Gavin Newsom to intervene, but the ruling on Tuesday preceded any intervention. Pepe Barton, the conservancy's communications director, stated that the decision to cull the deer was not the conservancy's first choice, characterizing the deer's deaths as a necessary sacrifice to protect the island's ecosystem, residents, and economy.