Catalina Island’s Mule Deer Spared From Aerial Sharpshooters, But Hunting Season On The Ground Is Still On

A controversial plan to shoot a non-native species of deer on Catalina Island from helicopters has been scrapped.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a statement that the Catalina Island Conservancy announced Wednesday that the proposal to hire sharpshooters armed with AR-15 style assault rifles to take out more than 1,700 mule deer is now off the table.

“I heard from residents who were terrified at the thought of bullets raining down from helicopters over their beloved island and others who couldn’t stand the thought of the deer carcasses that would be left in their wake,” Hahn said in a statement. “I am hopeful that the next plan that the Conservancy puts forward can earn more widespread support from residents and everyone who loves Catalina Island.”

About the decision

Lauren Dennhardt, the conservancy’s senior director of conservation, announced the decision at a special meeting of the L.A. County Fish and Wildlife Commission, according to Hahn’s office.

The Catalina Island Conservancy said in a statement that while experts have clearly stated that aerial hunting is the most humane way of removing mule deer in these situations, where the population has been devastating a fragile ecosystem, they understand and respect the concerns raised by residents.

“Catalina Island faces chronic threats of fire and ecological imbalance that have been exacerbated by the presence of non-native mule deer,” the nonprofit said in a statement. “While science speaks loudly to what must be done to ensure the safety of Catalina for future generations, the methodology to accomplish that is what has been at the center of discussion.”

The conservancy added that they’re prioritizing other methods of deer removal, but it will take time to nail down the details, so they’re moving forward with a ground hunting season in the meantime.

The backstory

The plan was met with backlash by some of the estimated 4,000 people who live on Catalina Island and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.

The supervisors unanimously approved Hahn’s motion late last month formalizing their opposition for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, calling the idea “inhumane and drastic, and potentially dangerous to the public.”

Hahn called on the conservancy to consider “less extreme measures” of controlling the deer population, including relocating them to other areas, extending the ground hunting season, and sterilization.

The organization has also looked at introducing natural predators like mountain lions or coyotes to Catalina and installing fences to keep the deer out of certain areas, but it expressed various concerns for each of those options.

The conversancy argued that sharpshooting from helicopters could be effective, efficient, and practical for the island’s rugged terrain. But it acknowledged that the sound of gunfire and helicopters could be “disturbing” and cause stress for nearby communities and wildlife.

A petition that’s “vehemently opposed” to the plan, organized by the Coalition to Save Catalina Island Deer, has also grown to more than 18,000 signatures since it was started last September.