Supervisor Hahn Asks Governor Newsom to Stop Plan to Kill Catalina Island Deer

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn is asking California Governor Gavin Newsom to stop a plan to kill all the mule deer living on Catalina Island. The plan is set to begin on September 1, when professional hunters would start removing the deer. Hahn says the governor still has time to step in and prevent the animals from being killed. 'Tomorrow, these deer could begin to be killed, and once they are gone, they are gone forever,' Hahn said.

The group in charge of protecting Catalina Island is called the Catalina Island Conservancy. The conservancy says the mule deer are an invasive species, meaning they do not naturally belong on the island. People brought the deer to the island about 100 years ago. The conservancy says the deer eat native plants, which it believes creates a greater risk of wildfires.

The conservancy's plan was approved by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife back in February. Conservancy leader David Solomon said the plan is about keeping the island safe for its residents, visitors, and native wildlife. The conservancy has been working on this plan for many years. Its first idea was to use sharpshooters in helicopters, but the LA County Board of Supervisors rejected that approach.

Supervisor Hahn disagrees with the conservancy's argument about wildfires. She says the deer actually help reduce wildfire danger by eating the plants that could catch fire and spread flames. LA County Fire Chief Tony Marrone also warned that removing the deer could make wildfires worse, not better. Hahn pointed to a fire on Santa Rosa Island earlier this year, where 18,000 acres burned after the deer there were removed.

Hahn is especially worried because Catalina Island is home to nearly 4,000 people, and thousands more visit each year. Santa Rosa Island, where the fire happened, has no permanent residents. 'We should not ignore our own Fire Chief's warning that removing the deer could increase wildfire danger,' Hahn said. She believes the risk to people on Catalina makes this situation much more serious.

A wide group of wildlife organizations and the California Rifle and Pistol Association are also fighting to stop the plan. They filed a lawsuit against the conservancy and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The groups want a judge to issue a preliminary injunction, which would pause the deer removal while the court reviews whether the permit was granted correctly. The court hearing is scheduled for September 1 — the very same day the deer removal is supposed to begin.

The conservancy says it will move forward with the plan unless a court order forces it to stop. Solomon said that decades of scientific research support the decision. He said the conservancy is confident in both the science and the legal process behind the permit. The conservancy remains committed to protecting and restoring Catalina Island for people and native wildlife alike.