LA County Supervisor Hahn Calls On Newsom To Stop Catalina Deer Eradication

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn urged Gov. Gavin Newsom Monday to suspend or revoke a state permit allowing the Catalina Island Conservancy to begin killing thousands of mule deer on the island as soon as Tuesday.

Hahn, who has opposed the planned eradication, sent a letter to Newsom asking him to intervene before the conservancy is authorized to begin killing the deer Tuesday under a permit issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

"Tomorrow, these deer could begin to be killed, and once they are gone, they are gone forever," Hahn said. "Governor Newsom can still stop this, and I am asking him to act."

A request for comment from the governor's office was not immediately returned.

Hahn said she supports efforts to protect Catalina's ecosystem but contends that completely eliminating the deer could have unintended consequences, including an increased wildfire risk.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Tony Marrone, whose department oversees fire operations on Catalina, has warned Hahn that the deer consume vegetation that could otherwise become wildfire fuel, according to the supervisor's office.

Hahn pointed to Santa Rosa Island, where the deer population was eliminated years ago and a wildfire burned more than 18,000 acres earlier this year.

"Santa Rosa Island is unpopulated, but Catalina is home to nearly 4,000 people, with thousands more visitors," Hahn said. "We should not ignore our own Fire Chief's warning that removing the deer could increase wildfire danger."

Hahn said alternatives to eliminating the deer population should be considered, including maintaining a smaller herd. She said she has spoken with former Catalina Island Conservancy leaders who believe the island could sustain a managed herd of about 200 deer.

"I share the goal of protecting Catalina's unique ecosystem, but protecting Catalina does not have to mean killing every deer," Hahn said. "There are alternatives, and we should exhaust them before making an irreversible decision."

A coalition opposed to the eradication plan has filed a lawsuit challenging it, with a hearing scheduled for Tuesday.

Hahn also criticized the state Department of Fish and Wildlife for approving the permit with an exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act.

"Please suspend or revoke this permit and give California the opportunity to take another look at whether total eradication is truly necessary — and whether we can protect Catalina's ecosystem without eliminating its deer," Hahn wrote to Newsom.