A state permit issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife could allow the killing of thousands of non‑native mule deer on Catalina Island as early as Tuesday. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn sent Governor Gavin Newsom a letter on Monday urging him to suspend or revoke the permit before the cull begins, warning that “once they are gone, they are gone forever.”
The Catalina Island Conservancy argues that removing the deer is essential to protect native plants and restore the island’s ecosystem. Hahn, while supporting the broader conservation goal, cautioned that a total eradication could raise wildfire risk. She cited warnings from Los Angeles County Fire Chief Tony Marrone that deer consume vegetation that could serve as fuel, and referenced Santa Rosa Island, where deer were eliminated years ago and a wildfire later burned more than 18,000 acres.
Rather than a complete wipe‑out, Hahn proposes maintaining a smaller, managed herd of roughly 200 animals, a figure she says former Conservancy leaders consider sustainable. She emphasized that protecting Catalina’s ecosystem does not have to require killing every deer and that alternatives should be exhausted before an irreversible decision is made.
Opponents of the plan have filed a lawsuit, with a hearing set for Tuesday, and Hahn criticized the permit for being issued under an exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act. She reiterated her request to Newsom to suspend or revoke the permit, urging a reassessment of whether total eradication is truly necessary.
