Briefs

Supervisors Unanimously Oppose Catalina Island Conservancy Plan to Gun Down Deer Population

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors April 23 unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Janice Hahn to express its opposition to a plan by the Catalina Island Conservancy to eradicate the entire mule deer population on Catalina Island by shooting the deer from helicopters. 

“I understand the Conservancy’s concerns with the impact of the deer population, but I disagree that massacring hundreds of animals from helicopters is the right solution,” said Hahn, who represents Catalina Island. “This plan is extreme and I have heard from my constituents both on and off the island who oppose it. I am asking the Conservancy to put this plan on hold and reconsider several alternative proposals they had previously dismissed – including relocating the deer, extending the deer hunting season to thin the herd, and sterilization.”

The conservancy has argued that the mule deer pose a threat to the island’s ecosystem by overgrazing and destroying native plants and habitats. It proposes eradicating the deer by shooting them from helicopters, a plan that has been met with outrage by many on and off the island. As of Tuesday morning, two petitions to halt the eradication plan have jointly received nearly 90,000 signatures.

With the unanimous support of the Supervisors, the Board will send a letter to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife opposing the conservancy’s permit application based on the proposed methodology of eradicating mule deer through aerial shooting.

“Through this letter, the Board will advocate for the permit to be denied and if it is, the Conservancy will be forced to continue to work on an alternative solution that could be more widely accepted and supported,” said Supervisor Hahn during the board meeting.

Besides the small city of Avalon, the majority of Catalina Island—located about 22 miles off the coast—is unincorporated, and thus directly governed by the County of Los Angeles. The Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, manages 88% of the island’s 48,000 acres.

Reporters Desk

Recent Posts

Rep. Barragán Introduces the Stop the Trump Electricity Price Hikes Act

The bill responds directly to DOE’s Oct. 1 action, which terminated funding for projects across…

1 hour ago

California Partners with Belgium to Boost Business, Strengthen Economic Ties

The two delegations held a bilateral meeting that focused on the innovation economy, clean energy…

1 hour ago

POLB Welcomes its Newest Advisory Committee Member: Hilda Delgado

LONG BEACH — The Port of Long Beach community grants team Oct. 7 welcomed Hilda…

2 hours ago

TRAA Responds to the Explosion and Fire at the Chevron Refinery

While we are glad to hear there have been no reported injuries or deaths, the…

4 hours ago

Supervisor Hahn Stands Against Catalina Mule Deer Eradication Plan

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn has announced her strong opposition to…

5 hours ago

“Censorship Is So 1984”: Annual Banned Books Week Celebrates the Right to Read

Across the nation, young people are trailblazing today, from school classrooms to the halls of…

1 day ago