Conservationists on Catalina Island are advancing a comprehensive strategy to safeguard the island’s native ecosystem following the recent approval by the state for the lethal management of the invasive mule deer population.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife authorized the restoration management permit from the Catalina Island Conservancy in late January.
“This permit paves the way for much-needed restoration efforts that have been overdue for decades, enabling us to undertake transformative actions,” stated Lauren Dennhardt, senior director of conservation for the Catalina Island Conservancy, in a news release.
Mule deer were brought to the island in the 1920s for hunting purposes. Conservationists highlight that the deer, whose population fluctuates between 500 and 1,800, lack natural predators and are causing destruction to native flora exclusive to the island. They also note that the deer are experiencing dehydration and malnutrition, as they are considerably smaller than their mainland counterparts.
The conservancy’s plan to cull the deer using helicopters was canceled in 2024 due to community concerns about potential safety risks associated with falling bullets and the aftermath of deer carcasses left in the environment.
Alternative strategies for managing the mule deer population included fencing, relocation, reintroduction of predators, and sterilization.
After evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches, the state decided to implement a multi-year lethal removal strategy, involving trained specialists using rifles in controlled conditions with strict safety measures.
The meat obtained will be donated to the California Condor Recovery Program to assist the endangered birds, and a special hunting season for locals will take place in the fall of 2026.
The state’s permit endorsement bolsters Operation Protect Catalina Island, the conservancy’s long-term restoration initiative integrating conservation efforts, habitat rehabilitation, and wildfire risk mitigation.
“The evidence indicating the serious threat posed by the deer is compelling, and all alternative options have been explored,” remarked Scott Morrison, director of conservation and science for The Nature Conservancy in California.
“Catalina Island can support either a vibrant, biodiverse ecosystem or a deer population. It cannot sustain both.”
